How long does it take to get a personal loan?

Personal loans providers often advertise personal loans that you can get “instantly”. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Read on to find out how long it really takes to get a personal loan. Plus, how you could increase the chances of a speedy approval.

How long does it take to get a loan?

Applying for a loan may take just a few minutes, but getting your application approved can take anywhere several weeks, depending on your personal circumstances and the type of lender you choose.

Today, lenders generally approve or disapprove applications using an algorithm, rather than a human being who assesses your situation (known as an underwriter). A common exception to this rule is non-standard (read “payday“) loans, where specialist lenders look at more than just your credit score and may even want to chat over the phone before getting out their “approved” stamp.

How long does a personal loan application take?

Most personal loan applications will take less than 15 minutes, regardless of whether you’re applying for a regular personal loan or a short-term loan. However, the precise time it takes to complete a loan application will vary between different lenders, and will also be affected by the personal details and documents you need to provide as part of the process.

Compare personal loan providers with fast approvals

Select ‘Compare’ to view the eligibility requirements and fees for each lender.

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Name	Product	Interest Rate From	Minimum Loan Amount	Maximum Loan Amount	Turnaround Time
Apply for a Personal Loan with Lendela		3.45% EIR: 6.5%	$1,000	$200,000	Within the day	Receive a customised personal loan that meets your financial needs.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Quick Cash Loan		3.45% EIR: 6.5%	$1,000	Up to 4x your monthly salary	Upon approval, the funds will be deposited within the next working day into your Citibank account or up to 5 working days for non-Citibank account.	Enjoy interest rates as low as 3.45% p.a. (EIR 6.5% p.a.) & up to 5 years loan tenure. T&Cs apply.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
HSBC Personal Instalment Loan		3.2% EIR: 6%	$1,000	$200,000	1 minute approval in principle. "Next Day" approval available for loans up to $100,000	Apply online and get up to $100 cashback and up to 1% cashback on loan amount upon loan approval. Valid till 30 September 2022. T&Cs apply.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan		3.48% EIR: 6.95%	$1,000	Up to 4x your monthly salary, subject to a cap of $250,000	Next working/banking day. T&C's apply	Get up to $3,100 cashback and Interest Rate as low as 3.48% p.a. (EIR 6.95% p.a.). T&Cs apply. Valid till 31 December 2022.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
UOB Personal Loan		3.4% EIR: 6.36%	$1,000	Up to 95% of your available credit limit	Instant approval	Get up to $3,288 cashback if you choose a loan of $15,000 or more with a term between two and five years. This online offer ends on 31 December 2022.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
DBS Personal Loan		2.88% EIR: 5.79%	$500	Up to 10x your monthly salary	Instant approval	Apply online using promo code 'POSBPL' and get up to 2% cashback on your approved loan with an interest rate from 2.88% p.a. (EIR 5.79% p.a), plus a 1% processing fee. Valid until 30 September 2022.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
POSB Personal Loan		2.88% EIR: 5.79%	$500	Up to 10x your monthly salary	Instant approval	Enjoy a fast approvals service and an interest rate starting at 2.88% p.a. (EIR 5.79% p.a), plus a 1% processing fee.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How long does it take for a loan to go into my account?

Once your application has been given the green light, the actual funding is simply a question of how quick the lender’s processes are – for example, whether they can transfer funds directly into your account immediately or if the payment needs to be completed on a certain business day.

The activation of your loan varies based on the type of loan you’ve applied for, and the lender itself:

An unsecured loan from a major bank

Typically funded in: instant – 2 business days (existing customers); 2-5 business days (new customers).

In Singapore, getting a loan from the same bank that holds your current account may actually be the fastest option available to you.

The bank has already verified your identity, and if you have a good track record with it, you may in fact already be effectively pre-approved for loans up to a certain amount.

If you apply through your online banking or app, then a good bank should auto-complete much of the application form on your behalf, and you could receive the funds in a matter of minutes. If you opt for a big bank that you aren’t an existing customer of, then the process is likely to take a couple of working days or so.

Guarantor loans

Typically funded in: 1 business day – 2 weeks.
Guarantor loans almost always involve a human underwriter assessing applications, rather than an algorithm alone.

There are a few extra hoops to jump through since there are really two people applying together, but it’s important to understand that how long a guarantor loan takes to turn around largely comes down to how organised the applicant and guarantor are. If you’ve prepped your guarantor beforehand, and both you and your guarantor are available to respond to any communications from the lender, you’ll be in for a much quicker turnaround time.

If a guarantor loan isn’t available to you, another option at your disposal could be to try a secured loan, in which money you borrow that is secured against an asset you own, such as your home or car.

Loans from an online-only direct lender

Typically funded in: 1 hour – 1 business day.

These companies are all about a “friction-free” user journey, and have carved out a space in the market by being faster and cheaper than the big banks. They also know that a significant number of their customers will apply for a loan after work, so many – but not all – can issue loans outside of normal working hours. By choosing a trustworthy lender you may expect a slick application process, an instant decision and fast funding.

Loans from a peer-to-peer (P2P) lender

Typically funded in: 30 minutes – 1 week.

Peer-to-peer lenders involve a platform (read “website”) where lenders and borrowers are brought together to invest or borrow money at bank-beating rates – at least that’s the theory.

Again, you can expect a slick application process and an instant decision, but funding times can vary hugely, depending on the platform’s business model. While some peer-to-peer platforms pool investor funds and then dip into that general pool to issue loans, others match a single investor with a single borrower (anonymously) – in which case the borrower has to wait for a willing investor to come along.

What affects a personal loan’s turnaround time?

Aside from the type of lender you apply with, how long it takes to complete the personal loan process depends on:

• Preparedness. The more information you have readily available to you, the faster the application process typically takes.
• Source of income. Some lenders might take longer to process your application if you’re self-employed or you’re a commission-based employee since it can be more difficult to verify your income.
• Personal credit. Lenders might ask for more information or documents if your credit score is less-than-perfect or you have a short credit history.

4 tips to speed up your personal loan application

1. Check the lender’s eligibility requirements. Start by looking out for any minimum income requirements. Applying for a loan you don’t qualify for means you’ll spend more time trying to find a loan in the long run. Also, if your lender uses a hard credit check, it’ll temporarily lower your credit score.
2. Gather your documents. Find out what documents your lender typically asks for and compile them before starting the application. These usually include recent payslips and your ID documents.
3. Have your information on hand. Having the exact numbers for your salary and any monthly debt payments on hand can cut down on the time it takes to fill out the application.
4. Ask questions. Not sure what details to include where? Asking a customer service rep can ensure you don’t make mistakes that could slow down your application. Many lenders today have a live chat feature on their websites.

Bottom line

It can take anything from a matter of seconds to a few weeks to get a personal loan from start to finish. Online direct lenders are typically the fastest overall, though you can sometimes find quick funding from other providers such as credit unions (but be careful – these types of payday loans are a risky way to borrow money).

The speed at which you can access funds is just one factor to consider when you weigh up the pros and cons of a personal loan, however. To learn more about how they work and compare lenders, check out our comprehensive guide to personal loans.

Frequently asked questions

What credit score do I need for a personal loan?

Most lenders require good or excellent credit to get a personal loan. However, it’s possible to find personal loan providers willing to work with borrowers with a higher risk grade. Whether or not you’re accepted for a loan depends on several factors, including how responsible you’ve been when it comes to managing credit in the past.

How long do personal loans last?

It depends on your lender, but most offer personal loans with terms anywhere from one to seven years. The longer you take to pay off your loan, the less you pay each month but the more you pay in interest in the long run.

What’s the maximum you can borrow with a personal loan?

Personal loans typically don’t go much higher than S$250,000. Banks will often set their own limits. For example, with a Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan you can typically only borrow up to four times your monthly salary. You generally need excellent credit, a high income and a low debt-to-income ratio to qualify for the highest loan amounts.