How it works: get a loan online in three simple steps

No paperwork, no store visits and no waiting in line. Here is exactly what happens from the moment you pick an amount to the moment the money lands in your account, and what you can expect at every step.

Three steps to your money

1. Choose your amount. Pick $200 to $5,000 on our site. No personal details are needed for this step, and you can change the amount later in the form.
2. Fill in one short form. You continue to a secure loan-request form that asks for your contact details, income and bank account. One form reaches lenders who work with all credit types.
3. Get your money. If a lender approves you, you see the amount, APR, fees and due dates. Accept, e-sign and the funds are sent to your account.

Why get a loan online instead of in a store

Applying online removes the slowest parts of borrowing. There are no store hours, no drive and no line. You do not need to bring pay stubs or write a post-dated check, because lenders verify your details electronically. One request reaches more than one lender, which improves your chances and lets you compare offers. And the money goes straight to your bank account, ready for a debit card payment or an ATM withdrawal.

Step 1 in detail: choosing an amount

Start with the cost of what you need to pay, not a round number. If your repair is $640, request $640 or the nearest amount the form allows. Smaller amounts, from $200 to $500, are usually offered as payday loans repaid on your next payday. Larger amounts, up to $5,000, are usually installment loans with monthly payments. You do not have to decide which type you want; lenders offer the product that fits your amount, your income and your state's rules.

Step 2 in detail: the short form

The form asks for the information every lender needs to make a decision and send money: your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number to confirm your identity; your employer or income source, how much you take home and when you are paid; and your bank's routing and account numbers for the deposit and repayment. It takes about five minutes. Have your bank details and next pay dates handy and you will be done faster.

Step 3 in detail: your offer and your money

If a lender can help, it shows you an offer with the lender's name, the amount you will receive, the APR, the finance charge in dollars, the payment date or schedule and the total you will repay. Read it, and if it works for you, e-sign the agreement. The lender then sends the money to your checking account. If the offer does not fit, close it; there is no fee and no obligation.

What you need to apply

• 18 or older and a U.S. resident.
• Regular income from a job or benefits.
• An active checking account.
• Valid ID, phone and email.

No minimum credit score is required to send a request. Many lenders in our partners' network focus on income and bank history rather than your score alone.

What happens after you apply

Your request goes to lenders in our partners' network, and you may hear from more than one with an offer. Compare the terms, pick the one that fits and decline the rest. The lender named on your agreement funds the loan and collects the payments. Some lenders ask for a quick extra step, such as a photo of your ID or a secure bank login to confirm income, before final approval.

How long it takes

Apply early on a weekday for the best chance of same day money. Details are on our same day loans and weekend payday loans pages.

Who does what

How lenders decide

Lenders look at your income, how regularly it arrives, your checking account history and your existing debts, and they verify your identity. Many make a first decision without a hard pull from the big three credit bureaus, using bank data or specialty reports instead. If a lender needs a hard credit check, it tells you before it runs one. Your state's rules also shape the offer: the maximum amount, the price and the term.

Is it free?

Yes. Requesting a loan through Payday Online US costs you nothing. We may be paid by the loan-request service when you use it, which does not change the price a lender offers you. See our advertiser disclosure.

Security and privacy

The request form uses an encrypted connection, and your details go only to the loan-request service and the lenders reviewing your request. They use them to verify your identity and income and to make you an offer. Read how data is handled in our privacy policy. We never ask for your online banking password, and no legitimate lender will ask you for an upfront fee.

Your choices after an offer

• You can decline any offer at no cost.
• You see the APR, fees and total before you sign, as federal law requires.
• Many states give you a right to cancel shortly after signing, for example by the next business day or within three business days.
• You can usually repay early, and installment loans often cost less when you do.

Repaying your loan

Payments are debited from your checking account on the dates in your agreement: once on payday for a payday loan, or monthly for an installment loan. Keep the payment amount in your account the day before. If something changes, contact your lender before the due date; many states require payday lenders to offer an extended payment plan, and installment lenders can often move a date.

Rules by state

Loan types and limits depend on where you live. Most states allow payday loans up to $500 and installment loans above that; some cap rates so that installment loans are the main option. Your state's limits are summarized in the state rules table.

Ready to start?

Apply for payday loans online, or pick a loan: $500 loan, installment loans, bad credit loans, same day loans.