Check your Approval Odds for a $1,000 loan
Image: 00Where to get a $1,000 loan
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If you’re planning to take out a $1,000 loan to consolidate debt, fund a major purchase or advance another financial goal, it’s important to weigh your options.
Traditional personal loans tend to have lower rates than credit cards, so they can be an attractive option. But you’ll want to consider your personal finances and what terms you’re likely to qualify for, as well as how payments will fit into your monthly budget.
We’ll review lenders you may want to consider and guide you through the process of applying for a loan.
Monthly payments for a $1,000 personal loan
| Loan duration | Average monthly payments ($1,000 loan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor credit | Average credit | Good credit | Excellent credit | |
| 1–12 months | $121.34 | $112.72 | $104.59 | $97.40 |
| 13–24 months | $93.02 | $77.00 | $65.08 | $58.03 |
| 25–36 months | $44.42 | $40.01 | $36.72 | $33.65 |
| 37–48 months | $35.67 | $33.78 | $30.42 | $29.47 |
The best $1,000 personal loans
PNC Bank
A PNC Bank personal loan might be worthwhile if you need a personal loan and have good credit or can apply with a co-applicant with a solid credit history. But it’s not available in every state, and you’ll need to borrow a larger sum of money to lock in the lowest rate.
Affirm
The Affirm app is worth considering if you want to make online or in-store purchases and pay for them with four (potentially interest-free) installments. But you might need a down payment, and if you spread out your payments over a longer period, you may face interest.
Personify
Personify Financial might be a good option if your credit isn’t great and you need to borrow a small amount of money quickly. You’ll likely have to pay a very high interest rate and an origination fee, which can make your loan more expensive. But the lender offers prequalification, which can help you see your potential rate and other terms before applying.
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union is worth considering if you have good credit and need a small personal loan. You don’t need to be a member to apply, but the credit union charges late fees and returned payment fees.
Upgrade
Upgrade offers some flexible loan terms and amounts, and you’ll have the option to prequalify. The lender doesn’t charge prepayment penalties (which is good if you pay your loan off early), but it does charge an origination fee that will add to your costs.
How to get a $1,000 loan
Before you take out a loan, you’ll want to consider what you want to finance with the money.
For instance, if you want to renovate your kitchen, you may want to take out a home equity loan instead of a personal loan. But if you don’t own a home and want to consolidate debt, a personal loan will probably make the most sense.
It’s also a good idea to apply for prequalification with several lenders before you make a final decision. Prequalification lets you preview your potential rate and compare loan offers without a hard credit inquiry. Just keep in mind that if you decide to move forward with a lender, they’ll likely run a hard credit inquiry that can affect your scores temporarily.
There are some basic pieces of information you’ll want to have available before you apply, including …
- Paystubs
- W-2s
- Driver’s license/Social Security number/identification
- Monthly expenses, such as housing or other debts
- How much you want to borrow
- Information about any collateral (if you’re applying for a home equity loan, HELOC or secured personal loan)
Depending on your lender and bank, you may be able to receive your money within a few days of approval.
FAQs about $1,000 loans
Depending on the lender and your bank, you may see personal loan funds within a few days — or even on the same day — of approval. But there’s no guarantee and ultimately it’ll depend on the policies of the lender and your bank. Some lenders may promise same-day payday loans or fast funding, but they can come with a high interest rate or costly fees. Consider if the speed is worth any associated costs or other compromises.
$1,000 loans may be available to borrowers with different kinds of credit histories, but each lender will have its own requirements for approval. It’s worth keeping in mind that the best loan terms usually go only to people with excellent credit. If a lender advertises rates starting in the single digits, try to find out their full range of available rates and fees to get a better sense of their offerings.
$1,000 loans may be available to people with no credit or bad credit, these options likely will come with higher interest rates, fees, or even the need to provide collateral to get approved. If you don’t have a strong credit history, lenders might consider you a risk and structure your loan terms with that in mind. It’s a good idea to apply to prequalify with various lenders so you can shop around and compare potential offers without a hard credit inquiry that can temporarily hurt your credit scores.