You answer short questions about your loan amount, credit range, income and monthly payments. Rules check your fit twice, in your browser and again on our server. If you fit, your request is saved for matching with a lending partner. A lender, not us, decides whether to approve you. Borrowers never pay us.
On this page
Step by step
1. You answer eight short groups of questions. Purpose, amount, state, credit range, bankruptcy and past-due status, work situation, income range and monthly payments. We use ranges so you never need documents at this stage.
2. A rules check runs twice. Your browser checks your answers instantly so you do not spend time on a form that cannot fit, and our server checks them again so nobody can skip the rules. The rules are plain: a loan amount inside lender limits, a credit range lenders accept, enough regular income, no recent bankruptcy or serious delinquency, and a total debt payment load that leaves room for a new payment.
3. If you fit, you are saved for matching. We send your request to a lending partner only after our partner agreements are complete. Until then it waits, and we tell you so on the form.
4. A lender reviews and decides. That is when a hard credit check may happen, and only with your permission. Offers come with an APR, fees and a term in writing.
5. You compare and choose, or walk away. Use the checklist before signing anything.
Why we ask for so many details
A short form brings more clicks and more declines. A longer, honest form brings fewer requests that lenders turn down, which protects your credit file from needless inquiries and protects partners from reviewing files that cannot be approved.
What if you do not fit?
You see a polite message and a list of free options. For requests that do not fit, we keep only anonymous totals, such as the reason category and the state. We do not store your name, email or phone.
How we are paid
Lending partners may pay us when a borrower is matched or takes a loan. You never pay us. Because that creates an incentive, we state it on every page footer and explain it in full on our disclosures page.
A walk through with example numbers
Imagine a borrower, Dana, who wants $6,000 for a car repair and a few overdue bills. She opens the fit check, picks "auto repair" as the purpose and types $6,000. She chooses her credit range from a plain list, says she rents, enters her income from any source and her monthly rent and debts. The form never asks for a Social Security number. In about three minutes the check compares her answers with the guidelines we keep for each lending partner type: minimum income, a ceiling on monthly debt compared with income, an amount range and a credit band. Dana fits the amount range but her debt-to-income ratio is high, so the result says so, shows what would improve it and points to free options. Nothing is sent to anyone.
A second borrower, Marcus, wants $12,000 and fits. His request is saved, he is told what happens next, and he can choose email or, if he checks the separate optional box, calls and texts. Until partner agreements are in place his request waits. We tell you that on the page rather than implying a lender is already looking at it.
What we check and what we never use
| We use | We never use |
|---|---|
| Loan amount and purpose | Race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or age |
| Credit range you pick | Where in a city you live, beyond your state |
| Income from any source and monthly debts | Whether income comes from public assistance |
| Bankruptcy and past-due answers | Your Social Security number, because we never ask |
| Housing status | Anything from a credit report, since we do not pull one |
These are the same rules for every visitor. The same JSON rule file is used by the form in your browser and by the server that records your request, so the result you see is the result we keep.
What to do while you wait
- Pull your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Gather your last two pay stubs and one bank statement.
- List your current debts and payments.
- Read our offer checklist so that you know what to ask a lender.
Things that would be a red flag from us
If anyone claiming to be from this site asks you to pay a fee, send a gift card or share a password, it is not us. Contact us using the details on our contact page.
What happens to your answers
Your answers stay in your browser until you submit. The result you see comes from rules that run in the browser; if you submit, the same rules run again on our server and the server's result is what is saved.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the fit check take?
About three minutes. Most people have the numbers in their head or on a pay stub.
When will a lender contact me?
Not yet. We send requests to lending partners only after agreements are complete. We will email you when matching begins.
What do lenders check that you do not?
Lenders verify identity, income and employment, review your credit report and decide on terms. We never do those steps.
Do you pull my credit report?
No. The fit check uses the answers you enter and does not request a credit report. A lender may do so later if you apply with it.
Can I use the calculators without the form?
Yes. The calculators run in your browser and do not require you to submit anything.
What if I am unsure of my credit range?
Pick the lower range, or check your free reports first.
Is there a cost?
No.