The 7 Best Types of Bad Credit Loans

If you are unsure which of these products is for you, try this helpful tool.

1. Home Equity Line of Credit

Pros	Cons
Flexible loan amounts Lower interest rates than credit cards	Your home is in jeopardy if you don't keep up repayments The bank could cancel your line of credit if you don't use it

A HELOC or home equity line of credit can give you relatively large loan amounts for cheaper rates than you would otherwise be able to access. Bear in mind, though, that if you can't pay your repayments for any reason then your home will be at risk of repossession and you could be left homeless. A HELOC provides a flexible line of credit that you can draw on whenever you need to up to the maximum credit amount, rather like a credit card. You'll only pay interest on the amount you withdraw, and interest rates are lower than credit cards, but your bank could cancel the credit line if you don't use it within a certain period of time.

To get a HELOC you’ll usually need a loan-to-value ratio of no more than 80%. This means that you own 20% or more of your home’s value. Even if you have a large mortgage on your home already, housing prices could have gone up and made your stake bigger than it was to begin with, so you could still be eligible.

2. Bad Credit Loans

Pros	Cons
You won't risk your house or car as collateral Preapproval is easy	Additional fees are often extremely high Interest rates are usually very expensive

Some of the best personal loan companies will still lend to borrowers with bad credit. Lenders such as OneMain Financial are open to applications from customers with no minimum credit score and will lend to those with credit well south of 600. Bad credit loans are usually unsecured so that you won't be risking your house or car as collateral, but the interest rates are higher to make up for your poor credit score. While there are reputable lenders for bad credit such as OneMain Financial and 5KFunds, there are also predatory lenders who charge exorbitant APR rates and a huge amount in additional fees. Make sure to compare interest rates as well as closing fees, origination fees, and early repayment charges before you choose a lender.

3. Peer-to-Peer Loans

Pros	Cons
More open to lending to people with poor credit scores Fewer fees Opportunity to explain your credit score	Interest fees can be high Approval can take longer than going to a single direct lender

Peer-to-peer lending websites are a newer type of loan option where you borrow from individuals rather than from financial institutions. This gives you the opportunity to explain why you have poor credit, which could up your standing in the eyes of potential lenders. Peer to peer lending websites like Prosper and LendingClub match borrowers with lenders who bid to fulfill the loan, thus bringing down interest rates through natural competition. Because there are so many potential lenders, you are more likely to find someone who is willing to fund your loan. Prosper also offers the possibility of borrowing from more than one lender at once. This spreads the risk across more individuals and increases the chances that they will be willing to lend to you.

4. Credit Union Loans

Pros	Cons
Lower interest rates than banks and online lenders Take other factors into account including credit score Will lend to borrowers with poor credit ratings	Your credit score will limit how much you can borrow and for how long

Unlike a bank, a credit union is a non-profit organization made up of members who usually live in the same district or work in the same profession. Gaining membership to a credit union is fairly easy; just search the credit union database to find one which you are eligible for. You'll have to prove your identity and make a small deposit, but once you are a member, you are entitled to apply for a loan.

Many credit unions require you to have a steady employment history and will check both your credit score and your debt to income ratio before approving your loan, but because they are non-profit, they usually have lower interest rates and easier eligibility requirements than banks and online lenders. Credit unions typically offer unsecured loans for up to 5 years and secured loans for up to ten years. Credit unions tend to have a high level of customer support and will take much more issues into account than simply your poor credit score.

5. Cosigned Loans

Pros	Cons
Any loan can be open to you with a cosigner More flexible terms and lower interest rates	Difficult to find someone willing to risk their money and credit rating

If you have a poor credit score but your partner, parent, or good friend has good credit, you could be eligible for a cosigned loan. With a cosigned loan, the lender essentially takes your combined credit rating into account, thus increasing your credit worthiness from the perception of lenders. Loan providers like LendingClub will accept cosigned loans where one cosigner has a credit score as low as 540. However, it does depend on being able to convince a friend or relative to take on the risk. If you default on the debt, they will have to pay the balance, and the loan repayment history will be added to their own credit score.

6. Secured Loan

Pros	Cons
Borrowers with lower credit scores can be eligible APR rates tend to be lower than for unsecured loans	If you don't make your payments, you could lose your collateral

Personal secured loans require you to put something up as collateral against the loan to underwrite it. This means that instead of your personal credit score serving as proof that you won't default on the loan, the loan is secured by the value of whatever you put up as collateral. The best-known secured loans are home equity loans and auto loans, where your house or your car serves as collateral for your repayments. However, some loan providers, like LendingTree, will advance you loans against your boat, RV, or powersports equipment. You can also use your jewelry and the money you already have in your bank account as collateral for a secured loan. Secured loans tend to have longer repayment periods and lower interest rates than unsecured loans.

and lower interest rates than unsecured loans.

7. Loan from a Family Member or Friend

Pros	Cons
No bank fees Low or no interest rates They are more likely to forgive your poor credit score and late payments	Your relationship is on the line Without a legal contract, you have no recourse if the lender changes his/her mind

Borrowing from friends or family members has some obvious advantages. You won't be judged just by your credit score since your friend or relative know your character as well. Someone whom you already know is probably also not likely to charge very high interest and will be more forgiving if you make a late payment. You won't have to pay any bank fees, either. However, if you can’t pay them back or are late with your payments, then you could ruin your relationship. Without a legal contract, you're also at risk of having them change their mind and demand the money back immediately.

Bottom Line

Even borrowers with bad credit scores can snag a loan, but it could take a bit longer or involve more research than for borrowers with excellent credit. No matter how poor your credit score, you can get a hold of the money you need in an emergency by taking one of these approaches to getting a loan.