High-Interest Loans: What They Are and How They Work - NerdWallet (2024)

If you have bad credit or no credit, a high-interest loan can seem like your only option to pay for an unexpected expense. But a loan with a high interest rate could trap you in a cycle of debt and make the situation worse.

Explore cheaper options before getting a loan with a high interest rate. If you get a high-interest loan, know what to look for to ensure the loan helps more than it hurts.

What is a high-interest loan?

A high-interest loan has an annual percentage rate above 36%, the highest APR that most consumer advocates consider affordable. High-interest loans are offered by online and storefront lenders that promise fast funding and easy applications, sometimes without checking your credit.

High-interest loans are usually a few thousand dollars or less. Some are short-term payday loans, but others are installment loans that you repay over a few weeks or months.

How high-interest loans are harmful

Consumer advocates say high APRs lead to large loan payments that can be difficult to make on time. At high rates, the total interest cost can be more than double the amount borrowed.

If you can’t repay, a high-interest lender may offer to refinance your loan. This often means getting a new, larger loan or one with a longer term, leaving you paying more than you initially needed.

High-interest loan examples

Here are four lenders that provide high-interest loans, plus the monthly payment and total interest costs on a 12-month, $2,000 loan at the lender’s maximum APR. With a 36% APR, the monthly payment on that loan would be $201, and you’d pay $411 in interest.

How much interest is too much?

One way to tell whether a loan is too expensive is to look at the monthly payment. Small-loan payments should take up no more than 5% of your monthly income, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. Add the loan payments into your monthly budget to see whether they fit. If it’s a tight squeeze, taking the loan may be a risky move.

Also, consider the total interest costs. Use a loan calculator like the one below to see how much you’d pay in interest alone. Interest on some high-interest loans can amount to more than 50% of the amount borrowed.

Finally, use the interest costs to measure how much the loan is worth to you. How much extra would you pay to borrow the money?

What to look for in a high-interest loan

If the only loan you qualify for has a high APR, look for a lender that:

Best high-interest loan alternatives

Borrowers with bad credit (a score below 630) or no credit may have cheaper alternatives to high-interest loans.

Alternatives for bad-credit borrowers

The lenders below cap APRs at 36% or lower and can lend to borrowers with low credit scores.

Upgrade personal loans can be as small as $1,000, and the lender offers access to credit-building features, like free credit health insights. The lender also offers auto-secured loans, meaning you can use a vehicle as collateral to improve your chances of qualifying or getting a lower rate.

Universal Credit loans, which are similar to Upgrade’s, take a couple of days to be approved and funded. You can get a rate discount for setting up automatic payments.

Avant can approve borrowers with a minimum credit score of 550 and a minimum monthly net income of $1,200. The lender says it can fund most loans the same or next day after approval.

Credit unions can approve bad-credit borrowers by looking beyond a credit score to the whole financial picture, including an applicant’s relationship with the credit union. Federal credit unions cap APRs at 18%, and some offer small loans of a few hundred dollars. For example, First Tech personal loans start at $500, and Navy Federal loans start at $250.

Payday alternative loans are another small-dollar credit union offering. These loans can be up to $2,000, have repayment terms of a few months to a year and have maximum APRs of 28%. You don’t need a long membership to apply, either.

Alternatives for those with thin or no credit history

Lenders that cater to borrowers with thin or no credit history consider other information to qualify them, like cash flow and employment.

Upstart can approve borrowers with credit histories that are too thin to produce a credit score. The lender uses information such as where you live and work, where you went to college and whatever credit history is available to make a loan decision.

Oportun provides loans of $300 to $10,000 to borrowers with bad or no credit. To qualify you, Oportun reviews income and expenses. You can add a co-borrower or collateral to the loan to help your chances of qualifying.

Capital Good Fund is available in a handful of states but offers low-rate loans to borrowers with no credit and those struggling to find work or meet other basic needs. The lender qualifies you using your bank account history. Loan amounts and APRs vary by state and purpose, but it could be your best option if you live in a state where Capital Good Fund lends.

Other borrowing alternatives

An informal agreement or nonborrowing alternative may be an interest-free solution in an emergency or financial hardship.

Family loans or money borrowed from someone you trust can help you bridge an income gap without a credit check. Draw up a contract that includes interest and a payment schedule so the terms are clear to both parties.

Payment plans are a useful way to split payments toward your utility bills, rent, credit cards or doctor’s office. Your utility company, mortgage lender and credit card issuer may have a formal application for payment deferral or hardship plans, but you may have to ask your doctor’s office or landlord directly.

Local charities and nonprofits may help you get clothing, food or transportation. These organizations can include food banks and religious organizations, and some can help you cover emergency expenses or utility bills.