Installment Loans for Bad Credit Direct Lenders

Finding a workable solution to alleviating debt when you have bad credit can feel impossible. Navigating high interest rates, loan terms, and making sure you can afford repayments throughout is stressful — to say the least.

This feeling is overwhelmingly felt by others in the current COVID-19 financial climate, with research showing the majority of Americans are struggling to minimize debt reduction.

The research also shows that 55% of us have some solid reasons behind this, including job loss and a lack of emergency savings. With no sign of this dissipating anytime soon, figuring out your best option to reduce debt is crucial.

Fortunately, there are legitimate loan options out there that can help alleviate your financial burden without ending up in a debt trap.

Installment loans for bad credit through direct lenders can be a lifeline for many right now. They offer flexibility and fair rates, and once they meet the recommendations set out by the financial regulators, they could be your best option.

In this review, we take you through the recommendations that aim to protect you. We also differentiate between installment loans and payday loans, and explain how exactly direct lenders work, but not before we highlight our top 6 installment loans for bad credit with direct lenders – sit tight! 👇

1. CashUSA.com: Best Overall

CashUSA is the final online lending platform to make our list of the best installment loans for bad credit. The lending portal offers borrowers the chance to secure a personal loan from $500 to $10,000. Loans can be repaid over the course of 90 days up to 72 months with APRs typically ranging from 5.99% to 35.99%, which is pretty standard.

If you have fair credit, you might be better off considering the top personal loans for fair credit. These usually have better rates and terms because the borrower has a higher credit score. 

• MIN Loan Amount: $500
• MAX Loan Amount: $10,000
• Terms: 3 – 72 months
• Rates and fees: 5.99% – 35.99%

Turnaround Time: 1 business day

The lending process with CashUSA is pretty clear and straightforward, but it also offers borrowers some additional benefits. 

First off, the loan request process is fast. Unlike loan applications to traditional banks, your online request will be processed quickly through CashUSA.

In fact, the loan request usually goes to lenders instantly. Considering some banks can take weeks to process a loan, it’s pretty impressive.

The CashUSA website is fully secure. The security of a website is a vital aspect for anyone looking to borrow online to consider. CashUSA uses extremely advanced encryption technology to keep all of your information in safe hands.

A key feature about CashUSA is how convenient it is to make payments. All of your payments can be made directly online. This means you won’t need to worry about late fees as a result of a delayed or lost payment. 

Additionally, CashUSA lenders allow you to set up autopayments for the utmost of convenience. With this, you won’t need to think about making your monthly loan payment ever again – it’s a fool proof way of keeping your repayments in good standing.

Most importantly, those with bad credit won’t be written off from getting a loan. People with bad, and even the worst credit score, can work with CashUSA, too. CashUSA is known as one of the premier bad credit loans with guaranteed approval out there, and is rated as number one in our review.

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2. BadCreditLoans.com: Best for Getting Funds Fast

As the name suggests, BadCreditLoans helps connect people with bad credit to lenders in their time of need. The financial marketplace has been around since 1998, acting as an advocate for consumers and matching them with a network of lenders willing to front up the cash to people with bad credit.

• MIN Loan Amount: $500
• MAX Loan Amount: $5,000
• Terms: 3-60 months
• Rates and fees: 5.99% – 35.99%

Turnaround Time: 1 business day

The website also displays an in-depth, informative news section where you can keep an eye on the latest scams, best practices to help you improve your credit score, and an array of other contributions make BadCreditLoans an invaluable source of information for anyone in need of financial guidance.

Though Americans paid off $60 billion in debt before COVID-19, WalletHub now projects that Americans will take on $140 million in credit card debt throughout the rest of 2020. This debt will only add to the stress on those financially struggling.

If you have several different sources of debt, checking out the top debt consolidation loans could be your next best step. Debt consolidation loans offer an effective way to manage and streamline your debts or credit card payments, not to mention coming with several other advantages.

The APR offers with BadCreditLoans can reach up to 35.99% – this is almost double that of the average credit card. If your credit is particularly low, you could also be restricted to a lower loan limit.

To put the APR into perspective, let’s say you borrowed $1,000 at a rate of 35.99% and needed 36 months to repay it. You would pay $643 on interest alone.

However, to apply for a loan with BadCreditLoans you will need to provide some standard information like your name, address, and social security number. From there, a BadCreditLoans representative will put you in touch with a web of lenders where you can choose from an assortment of loans. 

If you agree to the terms of a loan you’re offered, you can authenticate the loan online, and potentially receive the loan the following business day.

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4. Check Into Cash: Best Minimum Loan Amount

Founded in Tennessee in 1993, Check into cash has a long record of offering customers personal installment loans, Payday loans, title loans, and more all at affordable rates and convenient payment options.

Check Into Cash aims to help people that have been met with unexpected expenses, are in a money crunch between pay cheques, or for whatever reason, need some financial assistance over the short term.

• MIN Loan Amount: $300
• MAX Loan Amount: $1,500
• Terms: Varies by state
• Rates and fees: 261% to 782% APR
• Turnaround Time: 1 business day

The small-dollar, short-term lender offers installment loans starting at just $300 and increasing to $1,500. That said, new customers can expect to borrow just $750, or whatever their state maximum is.

Unlike Money Mutual, Check Into Cash is a direct lender. The financial company offers short-term loans specifically for those with bad credit including installment loans, auto title loans, lines of credit, payday loans and flex loans.

The lender offers an extreme APR range starting at 261% and going all the way up to 782%. A particular downfall with this lender is that its payoff options are not very clear. After 27 years in the business, it could do better. 

Furthermore, you could be met with some additional fees if you need some more time to repay the loan. While there are a few fees you should be on top of, they vary by state and include insufficient fund fees and late fees. 

Though these rates are high, Check Into Cash offers accessible loans to those with bad credit. In March, five federal regulatory agencies released a joint statement recognizing the dire need for such lenders in the wake of COVID-19. 

The statement takes a balanced approach towards short-term loans, acknowledging that while there is a need to protect consumers, eliminating financial options that serve as a lifeline for many is not the solution. Instead it has enforced codifying principles for organizations to offer loans in a responsible manner.

For Check Into Cash customers in select states, those who make a late payment and get hit with some fees, will be offered an Extended Payment Plan. It’s not too far from the one Cash Central offers, but it incurs interest at the same rate until you’ve repaid the original amount and the additional fees.

The Check Into Cash process is quick, and customers can be connected with funds within one business day of applying. To apply, you’ll just need a few standard items including your driver’s license or photo ID, social security information, a bank statement or your checking number, bank routing number, and proof of address – all pretty straight forward.

To apply, you can fill out the form on their website which will take all of about five minutes. Then, a Check Into Cash representative will be on the phone to you in no time going through the application process with you.

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5. Greenlight Cash: Best for Flexibility

Greenlight Cash is an online platform that hooks consumers up with a web of reliable lenders throughout the country. In essence, the platform gives customers the green light for installment loans. 

This marketplace partners with a wide network of professionals, giving you the opportunity to team up with them and begin working on conquering your financial situation in an effective way. Just hit submit, and you’ll be one step closer to your funds.

• MIN Loan Amount: $1,000
• MAX Loan Amount: $5,000
• Terms: Varies by lender
• Rates and fees: 6.63% APR to 250% APR typically
• Turnaround Time: 1-2 business day

Typically, installment loans come with an expansive range from 4.99% to 450%. Since GreenLightCash plays no part in the lending process itself, an accurate APR can’t be predicted. If you are suffering from credit card debt, we suggest you have a good understanding of how debt consolidation works before applying.

To apply for a loan with GreenLightCash just fill out a standard application form, get matched with a lender, and once you give the rates and terms the green light, you will get your money within 1-2 business days. 

Before applying, there are some eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet. These include being a U.S resident, being over 18, having a stable income, and being currently employed.

If you agree to the terms and conditions of the loan, you are entering into a contract to follow through on your side of the repayments. In the event that you don’t meet your payments on time, you might be required to pay some additional fees. Late payment fees will vary from lender to lender.

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6. LendYou: Best for High Loan Amounts

LendYou connects borrowers to lenders to help those looking for short term, unsecured loans. If you need some extra cash to help you with a large purchase, car payment or unexpected expense, LendYou offers a network that gives you options.

When you apply, your application will be sent to LendYou’s affiliate lenders. Should a lender think that you match their criteria for a loan, you could receive a loan offer.

• MIN Loan Amount: $100
• MAX Loan Amount: $35000
• Terms: Varies by lender
• Rates and fees: Starting at 4.99% APR
• Turnaround Time: 1 business day

Loans are offered anywhere up to $15,000. The amount you receive will depend on the lender, your application, and your state.

Not only does LendYou offer installment loans, borrowers can access Payday loans and Personal loans too. The structure of the LendYou platform is set up to give you the opportunity to get the best loan rates and terms for you.

Keep in mind, as LendYou is not a lender, it doesn’t make any of the terms or credit decisions. If you’re struggling to make credit card payments, you could also check out the top 5 debt consolidation loans for bad credit borrowers. Debt consolidation will allow you to compile multiple credit card payments into one streamlined payment plan with lower interest rates.

That said, a highlight of this platform is that the whole process is quite fast and done in real time. In total, there are just three steps to take to secure a lons: 1) Online registration, 2) Offer received with loan terms and conditions, 3) If you agree with the loan terms, the money could be with you as soon as the next business day.

To be accepted for a loan, there are some approval requirements you must meet like being older than 18 years old, being a U.S citizen, having a valid checking or savings account with a direct deposit, and earning a minimum regular income of $1,000 per month.

So, why choose LendYou? 

To sum up, you could receive a loan of up to $15,000, there are minimal restrictions on how you chose to use the loan, you won’t need to tie any assets to the loan, and of course, those with bad credit who want guaranteed approval, should be okay with this lender.

Covid-19, the Poverty Line, & the Struggle to Minimize Debt 😷

With hundreds of millions due to become unemployed, COVID-19 is having a disastrous impact on our socio-economic state.

Yet, Professor Philip Alston, a leading human rights expert recently released a five year tenure that has tied this more broadly to our political and human rights failures. Alston identifies the crisis the world is now facing as having five elements, the Covid-19 pandemic, extreme inequality, devastating climate change, a deep economic crisis, and a movement fighting racist systems throughout numerous countries. 

Essentially, Alston suggests that the poverty people are now facing has only been exacerbated by, not caused by, the pandemic.

Furthermore, a recent report released by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and BAI on consumer spending in light of COVID-19, showed that 55% are struggling to repay their debt during the pandemic. 

With this, Americans are about to take on more than $140 billion in credit card debt. This shows that our struggle is bound in some complex factors that will not dissipate anytime soon. So, what can you do to help alleviate your financial distress?

Tips on Managing Debt ✏️

Here are our top five steps to helping you alleviate financial debt.

1.Create a budget and don’t diverge from it too much: Make sure you understand where all your money is going and then rank all your expenses including emergency fund contributions, and debt payments.

2. Create an emergency fund: One reason people get into debt is because they don’t have a fund for emergency situations. Try and save about 12 months of your income to have something to fall back on. 

3. Increase your credit score: Better credit will help you pay off your debt quicker. It can also help you find a place to live easier or find a job.

4. Repay your biggest debt first: Most of the time, if someone is in serious debt, they have multiple balances. In this case, paying off the biggest payment first is the best call. Alternatively, you could consider debt consolidation.

5. Evaluate your current job: It won’t matter how much you save or budget if you don’t have enough money. In this case, working out whether there are higher paying positions for someone with your experience or skills could be the best option.

A Buyer’s Guide to Installment Loans

In this guide, we are going to explain what exactly an installment loan is and how it works, how they differ from payday loans, and how direct lenders work, to name a few.

What is an Installment Loan? ✅

An installment loan is an umbrella term that refers to the bulk of both commercial and personal loans extended to borrowers. With credit card transactions dropping as a result of COVID-19, it seems fitting that installment loans fill the niche. If this is the case, understanding how exactly installment loans work is a good place to start.

How Do Installment Loans Work? ✅

Within this umbrella, an installment loan is a loan that is to be repaid with regularly scheduled payments or installments. For every payment made on an installment debt, a borrower will pay a portion of the principal amount borrowed, in addition to paying interest on the debt.

The amount repaid towards each regular loan payment is determined by some key variables including the initial loan amount received, the interest rate, and the length or time that the loan will take to be repaid, also known as the loan term. The regular payment amount also stays the same throughout the repayment period, making it easier for the borrower to budget to meet all required payments.

You should consider monitoring your credit to make sure that it doesn’t fall below where you expect it to be. Using a top credit monitoring service could go a long way when it comes to securing better loan terms and rates.

Installment Loans vs Payday Loans: Which is Better? 🥊

As we just outlined, installment loans cover the bulk of car loans, mortgages, and other personal loans, to be repaid over a longer term. They also generally require credit checks. 

On the other hand, payday loans have a much shorter payment term, with higher interest rates. No credit check is needed for this loan type. Here’s a brief explanation of both installment loans and payday loans.

Installment Loans ✔️

Installment loans can refer to a diverse range of loans – car loans, mortgages, boat loans – but the installment loans that can be compared to payday loans are usually categorized as personal loans.

With installment loans, you receive a lump sum straight up. Then, you repay a set amount of money each month of the agreed length of the loan term. The term range can be anywhere from 2 years to 30 years. Personal installment loans, however, tend to be about 12 months.

Legit personal installment loans conduct a credit check and a quite lengthy application process. You will usually get a much more favourable rate on a personal loan than you would on any payday loan.

Payday Loans ✔️

Payday loans, on the other hand, are usually under $1,000 and are due on the borrowers next payday – and so derives the name. In most cases, a post-dated check is written, or access is given to the bank account to allow the lender to withdraw the funds automatically on the date your wage is due.

The issue arises with payday loans when you can’t keep up with repayments. While you will be allowed to push the loan back to your next payday, you will be charged an increased amount of interest. You’ll more than likely be met with some harsh late fees too.

In fact, fees are so harsh that they average around 400%. Not to forget, there are additional fees and penalties that come along with this.

This is compounded by the fact that under a new rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Payday loan lenders won’t have to check whether borrowers can afford loans. Although the CFPB is positioning this as a way to make the marketplace more accessible, it is a rollback of a provision set in place by the Obama administration in 2017, which was created to protect consumers from taking out loans with expensive interest rates. With this new rule, lenders are no longer obligated to assess whether consumers will likely be able to repay the loan in the agreed time.

The most significant part to note about this is that if you fall behind on payments, the interest snowballs, leaving you in what we call a payday loan trap. Should you get stuck in one, you could find it hard to get out.

Key Benefits of Installment Loans

Collateral Loans vs. Non-Collateral Loans ☑️

Installments loans can come either with a collateral or non-collateral requirement. Mortgage loans, for example, require the house that the loan is being used to buy, as collateral. The collateral for a house is the house you buy with the loan.

Some installment loans (otherwise known as personal loans) can be extended without the need for collateral. These loans require the borrower to have a good credit score, and a proven ability to repay the loan based on their assets and/or income. 

Despite the economic and financial hardships caused by COVID-19, homeowners are remodelling their homes in droves. This likely means more people will be accessing non-collateralized, personal loans..

Unfortunately for these remodelers, personal loans, or loans that come without collateral, tend to have higher interest rates than collateralized loans, reflecting the increased risk attached should a lender not repay the loan. To help you get the best rates possible, learning how to understand your credit score correctly could be a life (or money, more accurately) saver.

What is the Installment Loan Process? ☑️

1. Fill out an application
2. Speak with the lender about available options
3. Figure out what your best options are before agreeing to the loan

Here’s the breakdown for the process of applying for an installment loan. First, an application needs to be filled out with the lender, usually covering some standard questions such as what you want to use the loan for, like a boat. The lender will speak with the applicant and provide several options about the best solution to repaying a loan ie. the loan terms, payment amounts, and payment schedule.

For example, let’s consider someone who wants to get a loan of $10,000 to buy a car. The lender will let the borrower know that were they to make a bigger down payment, they could secure better interest rates, or perhaps a lower monthly payment by taking out a loan over a longer term. In addition, the lender will review the borrowers creditworthiness to help determine an acceptable loan amount and loan terms.

Ordinarily, the borrower retires the loan by making the agreed payments. Borrowers could potentially save on interest by paying off the loan early, before the end of the loan term. This isn’t always the case, however, and sometimes prepayment penalties can be charged for paying off the loan early.

Before going through the loan process, consider whether getting something removed from your credit report would help improve your credit score. This could help you secure better loan terms and rates.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Installment Loans 🟢🔴

So, what are the main advantages and disadvantages of an installment loan? Crucially, installment loans offer flexibility, and can be easily twisted and turned to meet your individual needs when it comes to the length of time you would like to repay the loan over.

Additionally, installment loans allow you to secure financing and a considerably lower interest rate that you would be able to with revolving credit financing, like credit cards. This way, you will have more cash to use for other reasons, as opposed to making one bigger cash expense.

When it comes to longer-term loans, a disadvantage might be that you are required to make payments on a  fixed-interest loan at an increased interest rate than the prevailing market rate.

Another key disadvantage of the installment loan stems from the obvious fact that you will be sealed into a long-term financial commitment.

In the future, circumstances might render you unable to meet the agreed payments any longer, possibly defaults, and forfeiture, and collateral that was tied to the loan. However, finding a top credit repair company could help improve your chances of getting better rates and being able to continue your repayment plan. solve these issues by increasing your credit score.

What Are Online Direct Lenders? 🖥️

Marketplaces don’t directly fund your loan. Instead, you’ll complete an initial application on their website and a lender will be in touch if they think you are a suitable candidate. 

Online direct lenders, on the other hand, are financial institutions that fund your loan directly, once approved of course. These lenders comply with both state and federal laws. This means they are held accountable to the lending rules and regulations imposed by the relevant state/s.

How Do Online Loans From Direct Lenders Work? 🧐

When you apply for a loan with an online direct lender, all your interactions and communication will, more than likely, all be with one financial institution. This concerns the application process, the approval process, funding process, and repaying the loan.

When it comes to online direct lenders, the bulk of the process is done online. This makes loans more accessible and convenient, especially during a time of social distancing.

Summary

Installment loans can offer a welcome relief for many of us struggling to make ends meet throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They come with several benefits includings, offering lower interest rates and flexibility. Though MoneyMutual is our best overall, each lender on our list offers different benefits therefore, we advise you conduct further research to establish the best option for your individual needs.

Although some short term loans can come with increased interest rates, regulatory agencies do recognize the benefits of these lenders for consumers in need. A recent survey highlighting those unable to pay as tax day arrival approaches, only serves to reinforce the need for short term lenders during the current economic and financial climate, so long as loans are offered in a responsible manner.

None-the-less, with lenders no longer being required to check whether you can afford to repay the loan, it is vital that you make your own calculations and assessments to avoid a long-term debt trap.