The Request Process in Four Steps
Requesting a personal loan through our service takes four steps: you fill out one free form, we share it with lenders that may review it, you compare any offers you receive, and you finish directly with the lender you choose.
The whole form typically takes a few minutes to complete. We are a loan-request service, not a lender, so we never approve or deny a request, and we never set the rate or terms of a loan. Every decision after you submit is made by a lender. Below is what happens at each stage and what you can do to make it go smoothly.
Step 1: Submit Your Free Request
The first step is filling out our secure request form with the amount you want, between $500 and $5,000, the reason for borrowing, and basic details about your income, contact information and checking account.
Lenders need enough information to decide whether they can review your request, so the form asks for:
- Your desired loan amount and the reason, such as medical bills, moving costs or debt consolidation.
- Your name, address, date of birth, email and phone number.
- Your income source and how often you are paid.
- An active checking account in your name, where funds would be deposited if you accept an offer.
- Your Social Security number or ITIN, which lenders use to verify identity and check credit.
Common basic requirements vary by lender and state, but most lenders look for applicants who are 18 or older (19 in Alabama and Nebraska), U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who have a regular source of income. You can review the details on our personal loan eligibility page before you start.
Step 2: Lenders Review Your Request
After you submit, we securely pass your request to independent lenders in our network that may be able to help, and each lender decides on its own whether to make you a preliminary offer.
Many lenders run a soft credit inquiry at this stage to show a preliminary offer. A soft inquiry does not affect your credit scores. Lenders may also check the information you entered against identity and fraud databases. If no lender in our network can make an offer, we will let you know, and nothing further happens with your request.
Step 3: Review and Compare Any Offers
When a lender can make an offer, you will typically see it on screen or receive it by email, and you can compare the APR, term, monthly payment, fees and total cost before deciding anything.
Offers for loans of $500 to $5,000 commonly carry APRs from about 6% to 35.99%, with repayment terms of 6 to 36 months. Some lenders charge an origination fee, often 1% to 10% of the loan amount, usually deducted from the funds you receive. Read each offer carefully and check:
- APR, which includes interest and certain fees, so it is the best single number for comparing offers.
- Monthly payment, and whether it fits comfortably in your budget.
- Total repaid, which shows the real cost of the loan over its full term.
- Fees, including origination, late and returned-payment fees.
As a representative example, $2,000 borrowed for 12 months at 24.99% APR is about $190.08 per month and $2,280.94 total repaid (an estimate, no fees included). Our loan payment calculator lets you test other amounts and terms.
Step 4: Finish Directly With the Lender
If you decide to accept an offer, you complete the application on the lender's own site, where the lender verifies your details, presents the final loan agreement, and asks you to e-sign before sending funds.
Accepting a final offer usually triggers a hard credit inquiry, which may have a small, temporary effect on your scores. The lender may ask for documents such as a recent pay stub or bank statement. Once you are approved and have e-signed, many online lenders can send funds as soon as the next business day, while some take 2–5 business days, and your bank's processing time also plays a role. From that point on, the lender services your loan, so payments and account questions go to them.
What Happens to Your Information
Your information is transmitted over an encrypted connection and shared only with lenders and service partners involved in reviewing your request, as described in our privacy policy; we do not sell your request to unrelated marketers.
Lenders that receive your request may contact you by email, phone or text about your offer. If you no longer want to be contacted, you can tell the lender directly and also email us at [email protected] to ask that we delete your request data. Our privacy policy explains what we collect, how long we keep it, and your choices.
Typical Timeline From Request to Funding
Most people finish the form in a few minutes and may see a lender response shortly after, while funding, if you accept an offer, can take from the next business day to several business days.
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Complete the request form | A few minutes |
| Lender review and preliminary offer | Often minutes, sometimes longer |
| Final application and verification | Same day to a few days, depending on documents |
| Funds deposited after approval and e-signing | As soon as the next business day; some take 2–5 business days |
Timing is never promised. Requests submitted late in the day, on weekends or on bank holidays usually take longer to fund.
What You Are Never Charged
Borrowers never pay us anything: submitting a request, viewing offers, declining offers and contacting our support team are all free, and there is no obligation to accept any offer you receive.
Lenders in our network may pay us a referral fee, which is how the service is funded. Any costs of a loan, such as interest or an origination fee, are charged by the lender and shown in your loan agreement before you sign. Be cautious of anyone who asks you to pay an upfront fee to "unlock" or "secure" a loan; legitimate lenders deduct fees from the loan amount or include them in your payments, and they disclose them in writing.
Tips for a Smooth Request
A few minutes of preparation, such as knowing your budget, having income details ready and double-checking your contact information, can make your request faster and help you choose an offer you can comfortably repay.
- Borrow only what you need. At 24.99% APR, $1,000 over 12 months costs about $1,140.47 in total, while $2,000 over the same term costs about $2,280.94.
- Set a payment ceiling first. Decide the most you can pay each month before you look at offers.
- Enter accurate information. Typos in your income, address or bank details can delay verification.
- Read the full agreement. Look for prepayment rules, late fees and the due date of your first payment.
- Watch for contact. Keep an eye on your email and phone after submitting so you do not miss a lender's message.
Questions about the process are welcome. Our support team answers email within one business day.
