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Borrow Money
What options do you have for borrowing money in Australia?
- Borrow up to $5,000
- Outcome in 60 seconds
- Flexible repayments
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Author
Savvy Editorial TeamFact checked
Author
Savvy Editorial TeamFact checked
In Australia, we're lucky to have a lot of different options when it comes to borrowing money. Before you can choose the best option for your situation, you need to understand what possibilities are. Learn about some of the most common choices on the table when it comes to personal finance.
How can I borrow money when I need it?
If there’s something you need that you currently don’t have the funds for, there are numerous options for borrowing money these days. In Australia you have your choice of lenders – everything from major banks and financial institutions, through to credit unions, online lenders and “fintechs” (short for financial technologies). So, whether you're chasing a cash loan in the Gold Coast, Adelaide or a regional town, you have loads of options.
If you’re looking for a fast and simple loan and don’t want to get lost in a sea of choices, Savvy can help. Our easy online loan application takes only five minutes to complete and can be done online at any time of the day. Simply complete and submit our five-minute application, and in a matter of moments we’ll connect you with one of our online lenders.
What's the easiest way to borrow money?
If you’re on the lookout for the easiest, quickest, and most straightforward option when it comes to borrowing money, you’re probably looking for an online instant cash loan. This is a type of small loan available from online lenders. When you apply for an instant loan, they use fast internet technology to access your credit information in moments and provide quick pre-approval for loans.
With a loan through Savvy, you can get pre-approval on a loan up to $5,000 within 60 seconds of submitting your application, with the cash available the same business day. It’s all done online, so you can receive your funds without needing to step out your door. Instant cash loans are the most streamlined and fastest in terms of their application for personal financing, so they can fill your need to borrow money promptly.
What options to borrow money do I have?
There’s more than just one way to borrow money from a lender. Here are some of the options available to you when it comes to personal finance:
Small loans
These are the smallest kind of loan – and fast cash loans fall into this category . They range in value from $2,050 to $5,000, and generally need to be paid off over a period of between 16 days and two years. They’re also one of the easiest loans to get approval for thanks to current application and approval processes in place with online lenders.
Personal loans
Available from most financial institutions, personal loans are a common way to borrow larger amounts of money than a small loan. Savvy’s personal loan applications enable you to apply for up to $75,000 through its panel of reputed lenders (provided you satisfy your lender's criteria).
Credit cards
Credit cards are another common way to borrow money. Once you have one, they’re quite easy to use, and operate similarly to a bank card. You have to be careful though – credit cards have very steep fees, and using too much credit or missing repayments is one of the easiest ways to damage your credit rating.
Bad credit loans
If credit has been an issue for you when trying borrow money, bad credit loans might be a good solution for you. They're more expensive than a personal loan, but they’re specifically designed for people with bad credit.
If you’re feeling lost about the best option for you, Savvy can take the hassle out of the process. Simply dial up the amount you want to borrow on the loan slider, click “apply now”, and fill out the application. We can connect you up with a lender and product that fits your circumstances.
Why apply for a small loan with Savvy?
Apply online, 24/7
No matter the time of day or week, you can complete your small loan application with us online.
Instant outcomes and same-day money
You can receive an outcome in 60 seconds and, if successful, have your money sent in just one hour.
Trusted lender panel
We're partnered with reputable Australian lenders to bring you greater peace of mind when applying for your small loan.
Pros and cons of instant cash loans
PROS
Fast – Instant cash loans are the fastest when it comes to borrowing money. You can get approval in seconds and same-day cash.
Quick to apply – Instant cash loan applications are a fast process. Our application only takes a few minutes.
Convenient – The fact that the whole process is online – including submitting documents, signing your contract and getting your money – means they’re more convenient than other loan types.
Easy to get approval – Instant loans are also among the easiest loans to get approved. Online lenders are more willing to work with bad credit customers and those experiencing financial hardship, and because instant loans are small, lenders don’t need to be quite as cautious.
24/7 Approval – The online nature of instant loans means applications don’t need to happen during business hours. Applying for a loan through Savvy can get you pre-approved at any time of the day or night.
CONS
Low Amount – Instant loans are capped at $5,000, so if you’re looking to borrow more money than that, you need a different option.
More expensive – Although there’s no interest, the fees for instant loans can be relatively high. They’re capped by the government, though – so you always know what you’re getting!
Short term only – The maximum term for an instant cash loan is only 24 months, so you need to have the whole amount (plus fees) paid off within two years.
Requires credit check – Even though they’re only for borrowing a small amount of money, applying for an instant loan still requires a “hard credit check”. That means it shows up on your credit record and negatively impacts your rating every time you apply unsuccessfully.
Frequently asked questions about how to borrow money
A few. You need to be at least eighteen years of age, have earned an income for at least ninety days, have a mobile number or email address that the lender can contact you at and you’ll either need to be a permanent resident or a citizen of Australia.
The application process varies, depending on the lender and the type of loan. The size of the loan often plays a factor, with smaller loans generally being a lot quicker to turn around (lenders are generally far more careful about lending large amounts than smaller ones) Personal loans are often turned around in days, depending on the lender. Instant loans are the fastest by far, and can have approval in minutes, and same-day funds.
You’ll need 100 points of ID (such as a driver's licence and/or passport) , payslips (or other evidence of income), and bank statements. The instant cash loan lender might need additional documents depending on the loan.
There are two main factors in how much money a lender will allow you to borrow: how much you can comfortably afford to repay and how much trust the lender has in you as customer. The first factor plays a big factor in the second, but things like your credit score also have an influence. If you’re having trouble getting a loan approved, you might have more luck asking for a smaller amount – and remember that smaller financial institutions and online lenders are often a lot easier to get approval from than larger ones.
Yes. Online lenders are willing to work with your circumstances – whatever they are – and accepting of unusual income sources (such as royalties and self-employment). The key factor is being able to show evidence that the income is consistent and reliable, which can be demonstrated by your bank statements and tax returns, among other documents.
Yes. Online lenders in particular are more interested in the current state of your finances than in your past financial history, so a bad credit rating won’t get in the way of getting an instant cash loan, for instance. So, if you're wanting a no credit check loan because you have bad credit, you can stop searching.
Yes. Many lenders are willing to treat Centrelink benefits as a form of income. Savvy can connect you with lenders that can help in this respect.
Small loans to suit your circumstances
Helpful small loan guides
Disclaimer:
The information on this website is of general nature and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs.
For loans between $2,050 and $5,000, the APR is between 21.24% (minimum) and 48% (maximum) per annum. Comparison rate of 65.4962%. Minimum term is 16 days and maximum term is 24 months. The cost of the loan is a $400 establishment fee and monthly interest charged on the amount borrowed. For example, a loan of $3,000 over 3 months with an APR of 48%, (comparison rate of 65.4962%), will have an establishment fee of $400, monthly repayments of $1,225.20. Total repayments of $3,675.60 and total interest payment of $275.60.
Warning: A comparison rate indicates the true cost of a loan. Comparison rates are true only for the examples provided and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
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