The process at a glance
Request
Share the amount you need, your income and contact details in our short form.
Check
If a lender can help, read the APR, payment schedule and total of payments.
Receive
Sign online and funds go to your bank account.
Step 1: Submit a request
Our form asks for the basics lenders need: loan amount, state, income source and pay schedule, and contact details. Your information is sent over an encrypted connection. Submitting a request is free and doesn’t commit you to anything.
If you apply directly with Big Picture Loans instead, expect to provide your name, address, date of birth and other identifying information. The lender may ask for a driver’s license and runs a credit check on every application.
Step 2: Check the offer carefully
Federal Truth in Lending rules require lenders to show the APR, finance charge, amount financed and total of payments before you sign. Look for these four numbers in a box near the top of the agreement. Then check:
- Which law governs the loan (state, tribal or federal)
- Payment dates and how payments are collected
- Late, returned-payment and any other fees
- How to pay off early and how disputes are handled
You can walk away. Seeing an offer doesn’t oblige you to accept it. If the total cost doesn’t fit your budget, decline.
Step 3: Sign and get your money
Once you sign, the lender sends funds. Big Picture Loans says it first tries Real-Time Funding, which can post within minutes, including weekends. If your bank doesn’t accept it, the lender uses ACH, which usually posts the next business day. Other lenders set their own timing.
After you’re funded
- Set calendar reminders two days before each payment date.
- Pay extra whenever possible to reduce interest.
- Keep copies of your agreement and every payment confirmation.
- If you run into trouble, call the lender before a payment is missed.
What our request form does, and doesn’t do
- We’re not a lender. We don’t make credit decisions or set rates.
- Your request may go to third-party lenders, which may or may not include Big Picture Loans.
- Any offer comes with the lender’s own terms, which you can accept or decline.
- We may be paid when you’re connected with a partner. That never changes our ratings. See our disclosure.
How to compare two loan offers like Big Picture Loans
Put the four Truth in Lending numbers side by side, and decide on the total of payments. For example, scaling each lender’s published example to $1,000:
| Big Picture Loans example | OppLoans example | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount financed | $1,000 | $1,000 (scaled) |
| APR | 395% | 160% |
| Schedule | 26 bi-weekly payments | 9 monthly payments |
| Total of payments | About $4,130 | About $1,776 |
Illustrations based on each lender’s published example; your offers will differ.
Red flags during the loan process
- A request to pay a fee before you receive funds
- Pressure to sign before you’ve read the agreement
- Someone offering to take a Big Picture Loans application by phone (the lender says it doesn’t)
- Links from texts or emails that don’t lead to the lender’s official domain
More tips: Is Big Picture Loans legit?
If you’re declined
- Read the notice. Under federal credit reporting law you’re entitled to know if a credit report was used against you.
- Check the common decline reasons and fix any mismatched details.
- Avoid applying with many lenders at once; each full application can mean another credit check.
- Ask a credit union about a Payday Alternative Loan, capped at 28% APR.
The four numbers every loan offer must show
Federal Truth in Lending rules require lenders to disclose these before you sign. Here’s what each means, using Big Picture Loans’ published example:
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- The yearly cost of credit, including interest and certain fees. Example: 395%.
- Finance charge
- The total dollar cost of borrowing. Example: about $3,130.
- Amount financed
- The credit provided to you. Example: $1,000.
- Total of payments
- What you pay if you follow the schedule. Example: $4,129.92.
From request to first payment: a typical timeline
| Stage | What happens | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes 0–10 | You submit a request or application | Enter details exactly as on your ID and bank records |
| Same day | Lender verifies information and makes a decision | Watch your email and phone |
| Same day to next business day | Funds arrive, depending on the lender and your bank | Save the agreement and payment schedule |
| First due date | First payment is collected | Keep enough in your account; pay extra if you can |
Want lender-specific timing? See how long Big Picture Loans takes.
Frequently asked questions
Is this website the same as Big Picture Loans?
No. We’re an independent information site and not a lender. Our form may connect you with third-party lenders.
Does submitting a request guarantee a loan?
No. Lenders make their own decisions and set their own terms.
What should I compare between loan offers?
Compare the APR, finance charge, amount financed and especially the total of payments.
Still weighing it up? You can check other lenders first and decline anything that doesn’t fit. Check my loan options.
Sources
- Big Picture Loans homepage and disclosures: https://www.bigpictureloans.com/
- CFPB: Truth in Lending disclosures: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1026/
- OppLoans application disclosures: https://secure.opploans.com/register/lead_intro
- CFPB: Summary of your rights under the FCRA: https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf
- NCUA: Payday Alternative Loans: https://ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/regulatory-compliance-resources/payday-alternative-loans