The Short Version: One Request, Lender Offers, Your Choice
You complete one request form, we share it with lenders in our network, and any lender able to help may show you an offer. You decide whether to accept, and you never pay us a fee.
If you arrived after a Sezzle Application search, the route here works differently from a pay-in-4 app. Instead of splitting a single checkout into four payments at one store, you request a personal loan of $500–$5,000 that lands in your bank account, can be spent anywhere, and is repaid in fixed monthly installments over roughly 3–36 months (estimate; terms are set by the lender).
We are not a lender, so we never decide whether you are approved. Our job is to get your request in front of lenders that may serve your state and amount, then step out of the way while you review what they offer.
The four steps at a glance
A request moves through four steps: you send the short form, lenders in our network review it, you compare any offer, and an accepted lender sends the funds.
Submit request
Fill in the short request form with the amount you want, between $500 and $5,000, what it is for, and basic details about your income, contact information and bank account. Most people finish in about five minutes.
Get matched
We pass your request to lenders in our network that may lend in your state for that amount. A lender reviewing it may run a soft or hard credit check, depending on its own process.
Review offer
If a lender can make an offer, you see the amount, APR, term, monthly payment and any fees before you agree. Read the full agreement, compare it with other options, and decline if it does not fit.
Funds from lender
If you accept and the lender approves the final details, the lender sends money to your bank account, often by the next business day depending on the lender and your bank (estimate). You repay the lender directly.
What the Request Form Asks and Why
The request form asks for the amount, its purpose, your contact details, income, employment, housing, date of birth, Social Security number or ITIN, and bank account. Lenders use these details to confirm identity and judge ability to repay.
| Detail | Why lenders ask for it |
|---|---|
| Amount and purpose | Matches you with lenders that offer that amount and helps them judge whether the term fits the purchase. |
| Name, address, email and phone | Confirms identity, checks that the lender serves your state, and lets the lender reach you about an offer. |
| Date of birth | Confirms you meet the minimum age: 18 or older (19 in Alabama and Nebraska). |
| SSN or ITIN | Lets the lender confirm identity and, if it chooses, check your credit report. |
| Income and employment | Shows whether a monthly payment is realistic for your budget. |
| Housing and monthly costs | Helps the lender estimate your debt-to-income ratio. |
| Checking account | Where the lender deposits funds and, if you choose autopay, collects payments. |
Have a recent pay stub or benefits statement and your bank details handy. Some lenders ask for documents after you see an offer, and having them ready can speed things up.
Our eligibility requirements guide explains what lenders in our network typically look for before you start.
What Happens After You Submit Your Request
After you submit, your request goes to lenders in our network that may serve your state and amount. A lender may show an offer within minutes, ask for more information, or decline; timing depends on the lender (estimate).
You will usually see one of these outcomes:
- An offer is shown. You may be taken to the lender’s own site to review terms and finish its application.
- More information is needed. The lender may ask you to upload a pay stub, a bank statement or a photo ID.
- No match right now. If no lender can make an offer, we tell you. You can review your budget, adjust the amount, or explore other options.
Credit checks
Many lenders start with a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. If you accept an offer and move forward, the lender may run a hard inquiry, which can lower a score slightly for a short time. Each lender explains its process, so read the disclosures before you continue.
How to Read and Compare a Lender’s Offer
Compare the APR, monthly payment, total repayment and any origination fee rather than the monthly payment alone. A longer term lowers each payment but usually raises the total interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Representative example: $2,000 over 12 months
- Amount
- $2,000
- Term
- 12 months
- APR
- 24.99%
- Monthly payment
- $190.08
- Total repaid
- $2,280.96
- Total interest
- $280.96
Estimate only. Your APR, fees and payment are set by the lender.
| Term | Monthly payment | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | $358.05 | $2,148.30 |
| 12 months | $190.08 | $2,280.96 |
| 18 months | $134.37 | $2,418.66 |
Some lenders also charge an origination fee of 0%–8% of the loan amount (estimate), often taken out of the funds before they reach you. Ask whether there is a prepayment penalty and what late fees apply. You can model different amounts and terms with our loan payment calculator and see how credit affects pricing on our rates and APR estimates page.
Pay-in-4 Apps or a Personal Loan: Which Route Fits
A pay-in-4 app usually suits a smaller purchase you can clear in about six weeks, while a personal loan suits a larger amount you want to repay over months with one predictable payment. Check each provider’s current terms.
| Feature | Pay-in-4 app | Personal loan |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | Smaller purchases at one checkout | $500–$5,000 |
| Repayment | Four payments over about six weeks | Monthly installments over 3–36 months |
| Interest | Typically none when paid on time | APR about 5.99%–35.99% (estimate) |
| Where you can use it | Participating stores | Anywhere, since funds go to your bank |
| Credit check | Often a soft check | Soft check first at many lenders; hard check may follow |
Sezzle, for example, says its standard plan splits a purchase into four payments over about six weeks and uses a soft credit check at sign-up; check the provider’s current terms. Our guide to personal loans versus buy now, pay later goes deeper on when each makes sense.
Repaying the Lender and Staying on Track
You repay the lender directly, not us, on the schedule in your loan agreement. Setting up autopay, keeping a small buffer in checking and calling the lender early if money gets tight all help you avoid late fees.
- Line up the due date with the day your paycheck arrives, and ask the lender whether it can move the date if needed.
- Keep at least one payment’s worth of cushion in your checking account so autopay never bounces.
- Pay a little extra when you can, if your agreement has no prepayment penalty, to cut total interest.
- If you hit a rough patch, contact the lender before a payment is missed; many have hardship options.
Still have questions about the process? Our frequently asked questions cover credit checks, timing and state availability.