Personal loans are a convenient way to cover home repairs, medical bills, weddings and other large expenses. But it can take up to a week for funds to clear, however, which may put a wrinkle in your plans.
Brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions usually deposit funds within three to seven days, while online lenders tend to move faster, often depositing money within 24 hours of approval.
CNBC Select has chosen the best lenders with expedited distribution. In addition to funding time, we looked at rates, fees, loan limits, term lengths, customer service and other key factors. To see how we made our selections, check out our methodology.
Best same-day personal loans of 2026
Looking to simplify your payments? These programs can help you consolidate without borrowing more.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
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Best for no credit history: Upstart
Who’s this for? Upstart considers lenders with low credit scores or with insufficient credit history. This makes it a more accessible loan option if you’re worried that you haven’t been exposed to credit long enough to develop a robust financial track record in order to apply for loans and credit.
Standout benefits: According to Upstart’s website, potential borrowers can receive a lending decision just by submitting an application — no financial documentation required. However, they must still pass a hard inquiry in order to receive final approval.
Upstart offers accessible personal loans for people with fair or average credit.
- Accept applicants with low or no credit
- No early payoff fees
- Most loans funded the next business day
- High late fees
- Origination fee of 0% to 10% of the target amount
- $10 fee for paper copies of loan agreement
Best for a lower credit score: Avant
Who’s this for? Avant is a great solution for borrowers with lower credit scores. According to Avant’s website, you may qualify for an Avant personal loan even with a credit score as low as 580, though most of their applicants have credit scores in the 600 to 700 range.
Standout benefits: Avant considers applicants with lower credit scores and can typically provide funding as soon as the next business day after you’ve been approved.
Lends to applicants with poor credit and offers next-day funding.
- Lends to applicants with poor credit
- No early payoff fee
- Can prequalify with a soft credit check
- Funding often available next day
- Late-payment grace period of 10 days
- Origination fee
- Potentially high interest
- No autopay discount
- No direct payments to creditors for debt consolidation
- No co-signers
Best for no origination fee: LightStream
Who’s this for? LightStream doesn’t charge any origination fees, late fees or early payoff fees, making it a more affordable loan option.
Standout benefits: With LightStream, you can generally receive your funds on the same day if you apply on a banking business day, your application is approved and you electronically sign your loan agreement and verify your direct deposit banking account information by 2:30 p.m. ET. If you can’t make this deadline, you should be able to receive your funds the next business day.
LightStream Personal Loans offer low APRs, no fees and the ability to apply online. Its terms are as long as 20 years, or 240 months.
- Same-day funding available through ACH or wire transfer (conditions apply)
- Loan amounts up to $100,000
- No origination fees, no early payoff fees, no late fees
- LightStream plants a tree for every loan
- Requires several years of credit history
- No option to pay your creditors directly
- Not available for student loans or business loans
- No option for pre-approval on website (but pre-qualification is available on some third-party lending platforms)
Best for no prepayment penalty: Rocket Loans
Who’s this for? Rocket Loans doesn’t charge a prepayment fee, so you can make additional payments and pay off your loan sooner without being penalized.
Standout benefits: Rocket Loans offers a 0.30% discount for making automatic payments.
Can receive your funds as soon as the same business day and there’s no penalty for paying off your loan early.
- No early payoff fee
- Offers autopay discount
- Can receive your funds as soon as the same business day
- Charges a late fee
- Origination fee is quite high
Best for co-borrowers: Prosper
Who’s this for? Prosper allows co-borrowers to submit a joint personal loan application, with the possibility of next-day funding.
Standout benefits: Applicants can check their rate online without hurting their credit score, making it easier to shop for the best offer before committing to a lender.
You can sign with collateral or a co-borrower to better your approval odds and secure a lower rate. Funding can be quick.
- Approves loans of up to $50,000
- Repeat borrowers may qualify for an APR discount
- Borrowers can choose their payment date
- Co-borrowers permitted
- Higher maximum APR than other lenders
- Funding may take several days
- No direct payment to creditors
- Numerous fees
Best for smaller loans: PenFed Credit Union
Who’s this for? If you just need a small loan, PenFed lets you apply for as little as $600. That’s one of the smallest loan offerings on the market, making PenFed a reputable solution for when you just need a little cash.
Standout benefits: PenFed is a federal credit union open to anyone who makes a minimum $5 deposit into a new savings account. Personal loans can be disbursed electronically or via a physical check. You can receive your funds by mail the next day if you pay for expedited shipping or pick it up at any PenFed location.
Credit union membership is available to anyone and low amount offerings are as low as $600.
- Credit union membership available to anyone
- Loans as low as $600
- Can pick up a physical at a branch
- May apply with a co-borrower
- Funds come as a physical check
- Must be a member to get funds (no membership needed to apply)
- Must pay for expedited shipping to get your funds next day
- Maximum loan amount of $50,000
- Late fee of $29
Best for borrowing higher amounts: SoFi
Who’s this for? SoFi lets borrowers apply for up to $100,000, making it an ideal lender to help you cover the biggest expenses.
Standout benefits: According to SoFi, 82% of personal loan applicants receive funding the same day if they sign their agreement before 7 p.m. ET on a business day. Otherwise, funds are generally available the next business day.
No origination fees required, no early payoff fees, no late fees
- No origination fees required, no early payoff fees, no late fees
- Unemployment protection if you lose your job
- DACA recipients can apply with a creditworthy co-borrower who is a U.S. citizen/permanent resident by calling 877-936-2269
- Can have more than one SoFi loan at a time (state-permitting)
- May accept offer of employment (to start within the next 90 days) as proof of income
- Co-applicants may apply
- Applicants who are U.S. visa holders must have more than two years remaining on visa to be eligible
- No co-signers allowed (co-applicants only)
Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or, Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
Best for existing customers: Citi
Who’s this for? Citi allows existing deposit account holders to receive funds on the same business day. Borrowers without a Citi account can receive their funds within two business days.
Standout benefits: Citi offers a generous 0.50% rate reduction for enrolling in autopay, compared to the 0.25% discount most lenders offer.
No origination fee, early payoff fee or late fee
- No origination fee, early payoff fee or late fee
- Fixed rate APR
- Generous 0.5% interest rate reduction for enrolling in autopay
- Can receive your funds as soon as the same business day if you have a Citi deposit account
- Co-applicants are not allowed
Best for flexible terms: OneMain Financial
Who’s this for? OneMain Financial offers both secured and unsecured loan options, making it a fairly flexible lender for those who need additional options to qualify for better terms.
Standout benefits: According to OneMain Financial, it generally takes less than 10 minutes to complete your loan application and receive your decision (but that may, of course, vary depending on how many documents you’ll need to provide). Once you sign the loan agreement, you’ll receive your funds as early as the next day.
Approves applicants with bad or fair credit and offers secured loans.
- Approves applicants with bad or fair credit
- Relatively low $1,500 loan minimum
- Same-day funding available
- Option to apply with collateral for a lower rate
- Co-applicants allowed
- High origination fee
- High interest rates
- No autopay discount
- No co-signers
*You must complete a loan application and continue to meet any criteria used to select you for a loan offer. Not all applicants are approved. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on applicant’s state of residence and ability to meet OneMain Financial credit standards such as a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and if applicable, availability of eligible collateral.
Not all approved applicants qualify for larger loan amounts, lower APRs, or the most favorable loan terms. For example, larger loan amounts typically require a first lien on a motor vehicle that is no more than ten years old, meets our value requirements, and is titled in applicant’s name with valid insurance. APRs are generally higher on loans not secured by a vehicle.
Example Loan: A $6,000 loan with a 24.99% APR that is repayable in 60 monthly installments would have monthly payments of $176.07.
OneMain charges origination fees allowed by law. Depending on the state where the loan is opened, the origination fee may be either a flat amount or a percentage of the loan amount. Flat fees vary by state, ranging from $25 to $500. Percentage-based fees vary by state, ranging from 1% to 10% of the loan amount subject to certain state limits on the fee amount.
For information about these fees and minimum and maximum loan sizes available in certain states, visit omf.com/loanfees.
Current OneMain Customers: Loan offers presented to a consumer assume the individual has no active loan with OneMain or one of its affiliates. If a customer applies for a new loan offer, a OneMain representative will discuss available options.
Active-duty military, their spouse or dependents covered by the Military Lending Act (MLA) may not pledge any vehicle as collateral. If you are covered by the MLA, you are not eligible for secured loans.Loan proceeds cannot be used for postsecondary educational expenses as defined by the CFPB’s Regulation Z such as college, university or vocational expense; for any business or commercial purpose; to purchase cryptocurrency assets, securities, derivatives or other speculative investments; or for gambling or illegal purposes.
Time to Fund Loans: Funding within one hour after loan closing through SpeedFunds® must be disbursed to a bank-issued debit card. Disbursement by check or ACH may take up to 1-2 business days after closing.
What’s considered fast funding?
Most traditional banks disburse loan funds within one to seven business days of approval. Online lenders tend to move faster, often within 24 hours of approval.
Lenders usually refer to “fast funding” for loans when money can be delivered within one to three business days.
Loan terms and requirements
| APR | Term lengths | Credit needed | |
| LightStream | 6.94% – 25.29% | 24 to 240 months | Good |
| SoFi | 8.99% – 29.49% | 24 to 84 months | Good to excellent |
| PenFed | 6.99% to 17.99% | 12 to 60 months | Good/Excellent |
| Avant | 9.95% to 35.99% | 24 to 60 months | Poor/Fair |
| OneMain Financial | 18.00% to 35.99% | 24 – 60 months | Poor/Fair |
| Prosper | 8.99% to 35.99% | 24 – 60 months | 640+ |
| Citi | 11.49% – 20.49% | Up to 60 months | Not disclosed |
| Rocket Loans | 8.99% to 29.99% | 36 or 60 months | Not disclosed |
| Upstart | 7.80% – 35.99% | 36 and 60 months | 300+ |
How to get loan funding faster
Before applying, compare rates and terms with different lenders. Many will let you check for free the interest rate you’re likely to receive.
Once you’ve picked your lender and applied, it will trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report. That will temporarily lower your credit score, so avoid applying for more than one loan if you can.
You’ll typically be required to submit personal information, such as your address, Social Security number You’ll also be asked the purpose of the loan.
The best way to receive a loan quickly is to ensure all your information is accurate. Errors or failure to submit complete information could delay the approval process.
Credit requirements for same-day personal loans
Credit requirements for personal loans very lender, but most prefer good to excellent credit (a FICO Score of 670 or above) to approve a traditional loan.
Some cater to borrowers with fair or poor credit (a FICO Score of 580 or below), though you may face higher interest rates or need to provide an asset as collateral.
Be sure to check with your lender what their credit requirements are before applying.
Bad credit? You can still get funding for major expenses.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Annual percentage rate (APR)
How to apply for a same-day personal loan
When you’re ready to apply, follow these steps:
- Check your credit score: Get a copy of your credit score and credit report to see exactly where you stand and to look for any errors or signs of identity theft that may be skewing your score.
- Shop offers from different lenders: Many lenders offer prequalification, letting you know whether you’re a good candidate for approval without a hard credit pull. Loan clearinghouses like Upstart or LendingTree allow you to view multiple offers at once.
- Decide on the best offer: Pick the lender with the best interest rate, monthly payment and timeline for your budget. Be sure to consider how much the loan will cost you over the full term.
- Submit your application and wait for approval: Have your Social Security number, bank statements, pay stubs and other supporting documents ready. Approval could take just a few minutes up to 10 days, depending on the lender and your circumstances. To expedite the process, apply during normal business hours and submit the required documents immediately.
- Accept the loan, receive the funds and start making payments: Review the loan agreement before you sign to make sure the loan amount, fees, rate, term and other features are accurate. Funds may be available the same or next day or take several days, depending on the lender and the information you provided.
With a debt consolidation loan, note that it may take some time for the funds to be sent directly to your creditors.
FAQs
What’s a personal loan?
A personal loan is a type of installment loan that allows borrowers to receive a lump-sum cash advance. Borrowers must then repay the principal and interest in regular monthly installments over the loan’s predetermined term.
How do you apply for a personal loan?
When applying for a personal loan, you’ll need to provide some basic pieces of information, which can include your address, Social Security number and date of birth, among others. You may also be required to submit pay stubs as proof of income. Some lenders may also require your bank account information. An application can typically be submitted online or in person if the lender has physical branches that you can visit.
How do you get a personal loan with bad credit?
Some lenders offer personal loans for borrowers with lower credit scores or may allow co-borrowers. It’s always advisable to improve your credit before applying for any financing, since lower scores tend to result in higher interest rates.
What’s an unsecured personal loan?
An unsecured loan is a form of financing that doesn’t require you to put up collateral to settle your debt if you default. Most personal loans are unsecured loans.
What’s a same-day personal loan?
A same-day personal loan is a personal loan that can have the funds disbursed to the borrower’s account on the same day that they are approved. Usually, in order to help the process move faster so that you can truly receive your funds that same day, you should make sure that all the information you submit is complete and accurate since errors can delay your funding process. You must also accept the lender’s terms that same day during the specified business hours in order to receive your funds quickly. If a lender is unable to provide your funds that same day for some reason, they can usually disburse the funds as early as the next business day.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every personal loan list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Our methodology
To determine which personal loans are the best, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. personal loans offered by both online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions, that come with no origination or signup fees, fixed-rate APRs and flexible loan amounts and terms to suit an array of financing needs.
When narrowing down and ranking the best personal loans for fair or good credit, we focused on the following features:
- Fixed-rate APR: Variable rates can fluctuate over the lifetime of your loan. With a fixed rate APR, you lock in an interest rate for the duration of the loan’s term, so your monthly payment won’t vary and it’ll be easier to budget for
- Flexible loan amounts and terms: Each lender provides a variety of financing options that you can customize based on your monthly budget and how long you need to pay back your loan.
- No early payoff penalties: The lenders on our list do not charge borrowers for paying off loans early.
- Streamlined application process: We considered whether lenders offered same-day approval and a fast online application.
- Customer support: Every loan on our list provides customer service available via telephone, email or secure online messaging. We also opted for lenders with an online resource hub or advice center to help you educate yourself about the personal loan process and your finances.
- Fund disbursement: The loans on our list deliver funds promptly through either electronic wire transfer to your checking account or in the form of a paper check. We noted lenders who will pay your creditors directly.
- Autopay discounts: We noted lenders that reward borrowers for enrolling in autopay, with APR discounts of 0.25% to 0.50%.
- Creditor payment limits and loan sizes: The lenders above offer loans ranging from $500 to $100,000. Each advertises its payment limits and loan sizes. Completing a preapproval process can give you an idea of your interest rate and monthly payment.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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*Your LightStream loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for the lowest rates. The rate quoted is with an autopay discount. Autopay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without autopay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 7.99% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $313.32.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.