Personal Loans · Bad Credit

A lower score does not have to mean no options.

Lenders in our network weigh income, employment, and loan amount alongside your credit score. One request reaches 200+ lenders. Soft credit pull only.

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No hard credit pull 256-bit encrypted 200+ lenders

FICO 580+ commonly considered · Income counts · No hard pull

200+

Participating lenders

Soft pull

No score impact to check

Next day

Funding if approved

FICO 580+

Commonly considered

Example

A fixed monthly payment instead of another payday cycle.

Illustrative example

Personal loan

Request amount: $1,800
Purpose: Car repair
Term: 18 months
Est. APR range: ~28% – 35.99%

Monthly payment

$128 /mo

Total cost

$2,304

Credit context

What a lower score means for your options.

Bad credit narrows the lender pool, but it rarely closes it entirely. Here is what actually moves the needle when your score is below average.

Score is one signal, not the whole story

Income, employment, requested amount, and how long you have banked all factor into what options a lender may extend. A lower score does not automatically close the door.

Smaller amounts widen your options

Requesting $500 to $2,500 reduces lender risk and broadens the set of lenders that may review your request. Larger amounts narrow the pool when credit is below average.

Steady income carries weight

Verifiable monthly income from employment, self-employment, Social Security, or disability benefits can support a request even when credit is in the 500s.

Checking is free and soft pull

Submitting a request through Harbor Lenders does not require a hard credit pull and costs nothing. You only continue if an option is available and you choose to.

Meeting these criteria does not guarantee approval. Each lender sets its own underwriting rules.

Who uses Harbor

Real situations, sub-600 scores.

"My score sat at 562 after a medical bill went to collections. I expected to get nothing back. A lender offered $1,800 at a rate I could budget around."

Tasha B.

Medical assistant · FL

"Two missed cards two years ago tanked my score. The lender that reviewed my request cared more about my last six months than my last six years."

Robert H.

Forklift operator · MI

"I just needed $1,200 to get my car back on the road. It was not a clean approval but I got a fixed payment I could plan around instead of another payday cycle."

Denise C.

Home health aide · TX

Composite examples illustrating common borrower situations. Outcomes vary by lender and borrower profile.

How it works

From request to funding in four steps.

Pick a smaller, realistic amount

Borrowers with sub-prime credit often see more options in the $500 to $2,500 range. Smaller requests give the network more lenders to consider.

Submit one secure request

Share basic borrower details, income, and employment so participating lenders can review your full profile. Soft credit check only.

Review what comes back

If a lender reviews your request, you can compare rate, term, and monthly payment. Expect APRs at the higher end of the 5.99% to 35.99% range for credit under 600.

Decide on your terms

You only continue if the offer fits your budget. If approved and funded, money is typically deposited to checking by the next business day.

Loan basics

The shape of a sub-prime loan.

Borrowers with credit under 600 often see smaller amounts, shorter terms, and rates at the higher end of the network range. The trade-off is access to a fixed monthly payment instead of revolving debt or another short-term cycle.

Request range

$100 – $5,000

APR range

5.99% – 35.99%

Credit check

Soft pull only

FAQs

Bad-credit borrower questions, answered.

What credit score do lenders in your network consider?

Participating lenders commonly consider FICO scores from 580 and up, with some considering scores in the 500s when income and employment are stable. Each lender sets its own underwriting rules.

Will I see worse rates with bad credit?

Generally yes. APRs in the Harbor network range from 5.99% to 35.99%, and borrowers with credit below 600 typically receive offers at the higher end of that range. The exact rate depends on income, requested amount, and lender criteria.

Does checking options affect my credit score?

No. Checking options through Harbor Lenders does not require a hard credit pull and will not affect your credit score. If you proceed with a specific lender, that lender may run a hard inquiry before final approval.

Can I get approved with collections or past bankruptcies?

Some lenders consider borrowers with collections, charge-offs, or older bankruptcies. Each lender weighs derogatory items differently. Submitting one request through Harbor surfaces the lenders most likely to consider your profile.

How much can I request with bad credit?

Requests through Harbor Lenders range from $100 to $5,000. Borrowers with credit under 600 typically have the most success requesting between $500 and $2,500.

How fast is funding if approved?

If a lender approves and funds your request, money is typically deposited to your checking account by the next business day. Some lenders may offer same-day funding when the request is approved before their daily cutoff.

By state