Oakam offers loans of up to £1,750 repaid over 3, 6 or 12 months, for short-term financial emergencies. Oakam also rewards loyalty and what it calls "positive credit behaviour" with access to larger, longer loans, better rates and Oakam Grow points.
Oakam is a direct lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It was launched in 2006 after its founder, Frederic Nze, recognised that lower income customers were unable to access affordable and convenient credit. Its aim was to bring simple and transparent financial services to those overlooked by traditional banking institutions.
Oakam has high street stores across London and the Midlands, and also offers a complete online service.
Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyadviceservice.org.uk.
Please note: High-cost short-term credit is unsuitable for sustained borrowing over long periods and would be expensive as a means of longer-term borrowing.
Key features of an Oakam loan:
Build your credit rating. As a first-time customer, you can take out an “Oakam Loan” of £200 to £1,750 over 3 to 12 months. If you make the repayments on time and in full, you are eligible for a “Lift Loan” of up to £5,000 to be repaid over 24 months. Your repayment history is reported back to credit agencies, allowing you to build your credit rating.
High, variable rates. Interest rates vary greatly depending on loan amount and term, credit history and personal circumstances. Oakam rewards loyalty and positive credit behaviour, so the better your repayment history, the lower your interest rate will be on further loans.
Repay in weekly or two-weekly instalments. Fit your repayments around your pay days.
Quick decision. Oakam aims to make a decision the same day, although you may be required to send supporting documentation depending on your circumstances. Once approved, have the money in your bank account the same day.
Multiple languages. Oakam has advisors which speak 27+ languages, including Polish, Romanian and Portuguese.
Award-winning app. The Oakam app allows you to earn points for paying on time, referring friends and logging in to the app. Rewards can include cash, high street vouchers or a cheaper interest on a future loan.
No late fees. Oakam will not charge you a penalty if you are late with a payment, although you will pay extra interest. Always speak to an advisor if you run into difficulties with your repayments as it will harm your credit rating if you are late.
Early repayment. You can pay off your loan in part or in full at any time without being penalised. Doing so can also save you money in interest.
Oakam Loan
Oakam Lift Loan
How much could I borrow?
£200-£1,750
£2,000-£5,000
For how long?
From 3 to 12 months
24 months
Ways to apply
Online, by phone or in-store
Online, by phone or in-store
Minimum monthly income required to apply?
£400 (via benefits, salary or self-employment)
£700 (via salary, or self-employment)
What are the benefits of the loan?
Earn better pricing over time
Flexible repayment plan
Top-up your loan
Same day loan
No late or early settlement fees
Build your credit history
Flexible repayment plan
Same day loan
No late or early settlement fees
Build your credit history
Residency requirements
Resident in the UK for at least 6 months
Resident in the UK for at least 6 months
Oakam believes you shouldn’t be barred from accessing a loan simply because your credit history is less than perfect. You can build a more positive credit record with Oakam if you make repayments on time and in full, which can make your financial future feel much brighter.
How do Oakam loans compare against other lenders’?
Table: promoted deals, sorted by total payable
If you’ve used the Oakam site to get a quote and want to see if you’re getting a good deal, find out how much a comparable loan is likely to cost you from some popular short-term lenders:
How much do you need to borrow?
How long do you need to borrow for?
Please note: You should always refer to your loan agreement for exact repayment amounts as they may vary from our results.
We compare payday/short-term loans from
How does a short term loan from Oakam work?
You can apply for a loan from Oakam online, by phone or by going in to one of its high street stores.
Choose how much you want to borrow for and the length of term you wish to pay it back in.
Complete the simple online application form, providing your contact details and monthly income and expenditures.
You don’t need a good credit rating, and can even be on benefits, new to the UK or have a CCJ to be considered. However, a credit and identity check will be performed and a customer advisor may call you to discuss your personal financial circumstances and affordability in more detail.
Once you have been approved, if you have applied before 4pm, the money will be deposited into your bank account the same day.
How do I pay back my loan?
Oakam uses a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA) to collect the repayments from your bank account on your chosen dates. Alternatively you can pay by cash at one of the Oakam stores.
What is a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA)?
CPA’s differ from a direct debit because you give the company being paid permission to withdraw money from your account whenever they wish, and to take payments of different amounts without consulting you. Most short term lenders like Oakam will use a CPA to collect your repayments. You can cancel this at any point by either consulting with the lender or your bank, but if you do that you’ll need to make alternative arrangements to ensure you make payments on time..
What are the eligibility requirements?
You should only apply for an Oakam loan if you are certain you can meet the repayment terms. You must also:
Be over 18
Have been a UK resident for at least 6 months
Have an income of £400+ (salary and benefits)
Have a debit card and bank account
In some cases you may also need to provide:
Proof of address
Proof of income
Proof of ID
Unlike many short-term lenders, Oakam considers customers with a bad credit rating or previous CCJ.
Have been turned down for credit before
Have recently moved to the UK
Are self employed
Had CCJs in the past
In debt management
Bankrupt or have an IVA
Additional borrowing options
Top-ups
If you have had an Oakam loan for at least 60 days, and are up to date with your payments, you can apply for a “top-up”. This will be offered at a lower interest rate. If approved, your current loan will be closed and you will be issued with a new loan agreement to include the additional money you borrow. You are only allowed to apply for 2 top-ups while you have an existing balance.
Did you know?
In 2015 the Financial Conduct authority (FCA) capped interest and fees on all high-cost short-term credit loans at 0.8% per day.
They additionally capped all default charges at £15 and the total cost (interest, fees) of loans at 100% of the original sum. This means you’ll never have to pay more than double the amount borrowed.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You may be accepted for a loan, subject to your financial status.
Oakam do consider applicants with a bad credit score. It is important to ensure you can manage your loan repayments to improve your credit score.
Yes. Oakam staff come from all over the world and speak 27+ languages including English, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Lithuanian, Greek, Russian, Afrikaans, so if there is a member of staff that speaks your language, you will be connected with them.
Subject to approval, yes.
Oakam requires references as part of its process of establishing your identity. Your references are not required to act as guarantors for your loan.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.
Chris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in credit-based products including business and personal loans, mortgages and credit cards, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their borrowing. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.
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