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Life has a way of throwing out curveballs sometimes, which can create an unexpected financial hardship. If you find yourself in a pinch, you might decide that you need a small personal loan to help cover these unplanned expenses.
Many different types of lenders offer small loans, whether it’s for auto repairs, medical bills, or even to help make ends meet if you’re in between jobs.
Here’s a look at where to find a $3,000 loan, how to apply for a loan of this size, and how much it might cost you:
- Where to find a $3,000 loan
- Time to fund a $3,000 personal loan
- Qualifying for a small loan amount
- How much will a $3,000 personal loan cost?
- Is a $3,000 loan right for you?
Where to find a $3,000 loan
Personal loans are very common financial products, and their popularity continues to grow each year. But it can actually be difficult to take out a smaller loan amount, since many lenders have traditionally set minimum loan amounts greater than just a few thousand dollars.
With that said, the demand for personal loans has grown, making it more likely to find a lender that offers smaller loan amounts. This includes online lenders as well as traditional financial institutions, like banks and credit unions.
Online lenders
When it comes to shopping around for a smaller personal loan amount, online lenders can often be the best place to start. Many online lenders offer funding as soon as the same or next business day.
Online lenders make it possible to take out a range of loan amounts, with a completely digital application process. And since they don’t have the overhead costs associated with maintaining physical branches, they may offer lower interest rates than banks or credit unions.
You can use Credible to compare your prequalified personal loan rates from multiple lenders, all in one place. The Credible partner lenders in the table below all offer personal loans for small amounts.
| Lender | Fixed rates | Min. loan amount |
|---|---|---|
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 9.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000** |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $50,000 |
|
||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.99% - 24.99% APR | $2,500 |
|
||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.3% - 35.89% APR | $1,000 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 |
|
||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 18.0% - 35.99% APR | $1,500 |
|
||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.74% - 17.99% APR | $600 (depending on loan term) |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 |
|
||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 11.69% - 35.93% APR7 | $1,000 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.49% - 35.97% APR | $1,000 |
|
||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.4% - 35.99% APR4 | $1,000 |
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Banks and credit unions
Many national and local banks, as well as credit unions, also offer personal loans. You can often apply for these loans online, though you may need to visit a branch to apply in person.
You may be able to receive your loan funds in a few business days, but there are some important differences to note between traditional financial institutions and online lenders.
For starters, some national banks have higher minimum personal loan thresholds. This means that if you only need to take out a smaller amount, you’ll need to find another lender.
Time to fund a $3,000 personal loan
Depending on which lender you choose, you may be able to get your personal loan funds deposited into your bank account in as little as one business day. While the loan funding time varies based on the specific lender, your application approval, and how you want funds disbursed, it’s generally a quick process.
Some lenders even offer same-day loans. This means that if you apply and qualify for your loan by a certain time, the lender may be able to disburse your new loan as quickly as that afternoon.
Credible makes it easy to compare rates from multiple lenders, some of which offer personal loans with a fast funding time.
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Qualifying for a small loan amount
Not everyone who needs a personal loan will qualify for one — even if it’s a small loan amount. Lenders look at two main factors when deciding whether or not to approve a personal loan application:
- Credit score
- Debt-to-income ratio
These two factors give the lender an idea of your past credit history, what sort of accounts you’ve held, how you manage your credit, and how large of a debt burden you currently have. This tells them how risky of a borrower you are, and whether you can realistically afford to repay the loan you’re applying for.
If you’re ready to apply for a personal loan, these are the steps you should take:
- Check your credit. You can request free copies of your credit reports from the three main bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Your reports will show you what kind of accounts are being reported and whether there are any errors. If you notice any errors, you can dispute them with the credit bureau before applying for a loan. If there aren’t any errors but your score isn’t where you want it to be, you can work to improve it before you apply.
- Shop around and compare lenders. It’s wise to consider at least three to five lenders in your search for a personal loan. This way, you can find a lender that offers the loan amount you need, competitive rates, and loan repayment terms that fit your budget. You may also be able to weed out lenders with qualification requirements that you don’t meet.
- Get prequalified and check your rates. Prequalifying enables you to get personal loan offers without taking a hit on your credit score. Many lenders will include potential rates in a prequalification offer. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll be approved, but it’ll give you an idea of what rates you might receive if you complete a formal loan application.
- Select the best offer for your situation. Once you’ve seen your prequalified offers, choose the best one for your specific situation and needs. This means choosing the loan amount, monthly payment, interest rate, funding time, and even income requirements that suit you.
- Complete the application and receive funds if approved. Once you’ve picked your lender, it’s time to complete an official application. This usually involves a hard credit inquiry, which can temporarily lower your scores by a few points. The lender may request certain personal or employment information, such as bank statements, W-2s, or pay stubs. If you’re approved, the lender will disburse your loan funds.
Learn more: How Long It Takes to Get Approved and Get a Personal Loan
Credit score requirements
Generally, the higher your credit score, the lower the annual percentage rate (APR) you’ll be offered on your new personal loan. So, borrowers with excellent credit may wind up with a more affordable loan product. But that also means that if you have bad credit, you might not get approved for a loan, may be offered higher interest rates, or could be limited in how much you can borrow.
While many different credit-scoring formulas exist, each with its own ranges, most lenders will pull your FICO Score when considering you for a loan. FICO Scores fall into five different categories: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Here are typical credit score ranges:
| Credit score ranges | Credit rating |
| Below 640 | Poor |
| 640 to 699 | Fair |
| 700 to 749 | Good |
| 750 and up | Excellent |
If your score is too low, you may not be able to qualify for a loan without adding a cosigner. This cosigner agrees to be held responsible for your new loan if you fail to make payments as scheduled.
Even if you qualify for a loan on your own, though, adding a cosigner with good to excellent credit may unlock better interest rates for you, which can save you money over the life of the loan.
How much will a $3,000 personal loan cost?
The cost of any personal loan depends on your interest rate and repayment term.
A higher interest rate will result in a costlier loan in the end, compared to a loan with a lower interest rate. A longer loan term may mean lower monthly payments, but it can also be more expensive than a shorter loan term with the same interest rate.
Some loans may also charge application or origination fees for processing the loan, which can further increase your upfront costs. You can use our personal loan calculator below to see how much a $3,000 loan might cost you.
Enter your loan information to calculate how much you could pay
With a $ loan, you will pay $ monthly and a total of $ in interest over the life of your loan. You will pay a total of $ over the life of the loan.
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Is a $3,000 loan right for you?
A small personal loan can be helpful in a pinch, or a lifesaver in a serious situation. It’s important to choose the right loan product for you and your needs.
Even if we’re only talking about a $3,000 loan, it’s always a good idea to shop around to find the best lender for your specific situation. This enables you to not only choose the right loan amount, but also snag the best loan terms, lowest rates, and the funding timeline you need.
