Emergency loans

Compare same-day and next-day funding options. Soft credit check. No fee to apply.

Person looking relieved after getting approved for an emergency loan
Same-day funding possibleFunding possible
Soft credit checkNo score impact

How emergency loan funding works

The full path from form submission to money in your account — with realistic timing at each step.

Submit form ~2 min
See offers Minutes
Apply w/ lender 5–10 min
Lender decides ~1 hour
Sign agreement Same session
Funds in bank Same day – 3 biz days

Most applicants receive funds within 1 business day after approval. The most common arrival window is the next business morning — if you apply and are approved before 5 PM ET on a weekday.

Pros and cons of emergency loans

+Pros

  • Same-day or next-day funding possible with select lenders
  • Soft credit check on the REI LoanDoc form — no score impact to compare offers
  • Fixed monthly payment; no balloon at the end
  • No collateral required — unsecured loan
  • Available with fair or bad credit, though APR will be higher

−Cons

  • APR can be high — especially for fair or bad credit profiles
  • Origination fees of 1%–8% reduce the amount you actually receive
  • Express-funding fees ($5–$30) apply if you want instant or same-day deposit
  • Short repayment terms mean higher monthly payments than a longer-term loan

Emergency loan alternatives

In an emergency, the cheapest money is usually the closest. Check these first.

Savings / HSA
Credit card
Credit-union PAL
Payroll advance
Typical cost
4% – 35.55% APR
$0
18% – 29.99% APR
Up to 28% APR
$0 – $8 fee
Funding speed
Same day – 3 biz days
Immediate
Immediate (if card on hand)
1 – 3 biz days
Same day – next pay
Best for
When cheaper options aren't available
Use first — free and instant
Small amounts with available credit
Credit-union members needing $200–$1,000
Employees with a short-term gap

For someone who needs $500 – $5,000 fast without collateral, the marketplace path is usually the most cost-effective option outside savings or a credit union.

Emergency loan requirements

Basic eligibility criteria shared by most lenders in our network.

  • 18 years of age or older
  • US resident in one of 46 eligible states
  • Regular income — employment, self-employment, benefits, or pension
  • Active checking account for fund deposit
  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Valid email address and phone number

Your Social Security number is required at the lender's application — not on the REI LoanDoc matching form. Our form uses a soft credit inquiry only.

Lenders with fast funding

A curated subset from our network selected for funding speed and transparency.

Known for fast funding; secured and unsecured options available.
$2k – $50k  ·  8.99% – 35.99%
Alternative-data underwriting helps near-prime borrowers qualify; same-day funding possible.
$2k – $36.5k  ·  7.99% – 35.99%
Specializes in fair-credit borrowers; fast decisions and next business day funding.
$2k – $35k  ·  9.95% – 35.99%
Personal loans and credit-building products; next business day funding.
$1k – $50k  ·  9.99% – 35.99%
Payday loan alternative; same-day funding possible. High APR — compare carefully.
$500 – $4k  ·  high APR

Frequently asked questions

Compare emergency loan offers

The REI LoanDoc matching form takes approximately 2 minutes and uses a soft credit inquiry. A Social Security number is not required at this step.

Get matched →

Disclaimer: REI LoanDoc is not a lender. Funding times depend on the lender you choose and your bank's processing. Approval is not guaranteed. See Personal Loan Notice and Advertiser Disclosure.