Utang is so strongly embedded in the Filipino culture that almost half of Filipino adults have outstanding loans, according to the latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) financial inclusion survey.[1]
There are many options for pautang in the country, the most common of which are emergency loans and personal loans. These emergency loans in the Philippines can be very useful when you need immediate cash, especially during financial crises or natural disasters.
However, it’s important to understand both the benefits and risks of each loan option before getting one for funding an emergency.
Emergency Loans in the Philippines: 5 Ways to Borrow for Urgent Cash Needs
Do you have an emergency and need cash urgently? Don’t panic. There are ways you can borrow money quickly and easily. Here are some types of emergency loans in the Philippines.
Option 1: Personal Loans
If you need a bigger amount, you can always apply for a personal loan.
Banks have strict loan requirements and credit investigation processes for borrowers who need cash for an emergency. Compared to other lenders, providers take longer to process applications—typically three to seven days—to assess a borrower's ability to repay a loan.
Applying for a personal loan is a safe, legitimate, and affordable way to borrow money in the Philippines, thanks to low interest rates and long repayment terms.
To get started, use an online comparison platform to learn where to loan money in the Philippines. Below is a list of trusted personal loan companies and their loan features. Compare your options and apply through Moneymax!
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👍 Advantages of Personal Loans
- Higher loan amounts
- Quick funding, with some banks offering same-day approval and fast loan disbursement
- Safer, more legitimate, and more affordable way to borrow money than informal loans
- Low and fixed interest rates
- Longer repayment terms than those of informal lenders
👎 Disadvantages of Personal Loans
- Longer processing time (for most banks)
- More stringent application process than private lenders
- Issued based on credit, so those with low credit scores may not qualify
📌 UnionBank Personal Loan
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With a high loan amount, low interest rates, and quick loan approval and disbursement process, it’s easy to see why a UnionBank Personal Loan is a great emergency cash loan in the Philippines. There’s no need for collateral, so losing your car or your home because of this loan is one less thing to worry about.
With a reasonable minimum income requirement, a lot of working Filipinos can qualify and apply for a loan. Here are some things to know before you send that application:
- Loanable amount: Up to ₱2 million
- Monthly add-on interest rate: 1.29%
- Loan tenure: 12 to 60 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱20,833
- Processing time: As fast as 5 minutes
- Disbursement fee: ₱1,750
📌#UNOnow Loan
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Looking to get an urgent bank loan? Consider borrowing from UNO Digital Bank. For any cash need, you can easily apply for a #UNOnow Loan through the UNO Mobile App. No collateral or co-maker is required.
This UNO Digital Bank loan is one of the best options for financing an emergency because of its straightforward approval process and instant disbursement to the borrower's assigned UNO savings account.
- Loanable amount: ₱10,000 to ₱200,000
- Monthly add-on interest rate: As low as 1.79%
- Loan tenure: 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱20,000
- Processing time: As fast as seven banking days
- Processing fee: 3% of the loan amount or ₱500, whichever is higher (deducted from the loan proceeds)
📌 Metrobank Personal Loan
With a Metrobank Personal Loan, you can borrow cash ranging from ₱20,000 to ₱1 million. You can use the amount to fund a medical emergency, business venture, debt consolidation, vacation, or home renovation.
Aside from its easy application process that can be done entirely online, you also don't have to worry about securing a lot of requirements. To apply for a personal loan from Metrobank, you just need to submit a copy of your valid government-issued ID and a signed Promissory Note and Disclosure Statement (PNDS).
- Loanable amount: ₱20,000 to ₱1 million
- Monthly add-on interest rate: 1.25% to 1.75%
- Loan tenure: 12, 18, 24, or 36 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱29,166
- Processing time: Around 7 business days
- Disbursement fee: ₱1,500
📌 CIMB Personal Loan
Since this is a fully digital personal loan, you can quickly and easily finish your loan application with CIMB in just a few minutes. Loan disbursement to your CIMB account takes as quick as one day, and up to two days if to other bank accounts.
As such, the CIMB Personal Loan offers one of the fastest loan processing times in the country, perfect for funding your emergency expenses.
- Loanable amount: ₱30,000 to ₱1 million
- Monthly add-on interest rate: 1.12 to 1.95%
- Loan tenure: 12 to 60 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱15,000
- Processing time: 1 to 2 days
- Loan disbursement fee: 1% of the principal amount if disbursed to a non-CIMB account
📌 Tonik Flex Loan
Looking for an easy and accessible online loan in the Philippines? Tonik, the Philippines’ first all-digital bank, offers Flex Loan. With this unsecured loan product, you don't need to declare any asset as collateral!
Since Tonik approves Flex Loan applications in as quick as a day, you can immediately pay for any financial emergencies.
- Loanable amount: ₱20,000 to ₱250,000
- Monthly add-on interest rate: As low as 1.7%
- Loan tenure: Up to 24 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱15,000
- Processing time: As quick as 1 day
- Processing fee: ₱1,000
📌 Tonik Quick Loan
Another of Tonik's online loan offerings is the Quick Loan. True to its name, Tonik approves this loan in as fast as 30 minutes. You also don’t need a credit history or collateral to apply.
No need to gather a mountain of documents, either. Just prepare a valid ID and one full-month payslip before you take out a Tonik loan.
- Loanable amount: ₱5,000 to ₱50,000
- Monthly add-on interest rate: As low as 4.26%
- Loan tenure: 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months
- Processing time: 30 minutes
- Processing fee: ₱500
See other Personal Loan guides:
- Loan Application via an App? Meet Zuki by SB Finance
- BPI Personal Loan Application: What to Prepare and How to Apply
- PSBank Flexi Personal Loan: What You Need to Know Before You Apply
Option 2: Emergency Loans
What is an emergency loan? An emergency loan is an unsecured personal loan that you can borrow to cover the costs of unexpected expenses.[2] It's a quick and easy way for cash-strapped Filipinos to fund unplanned expenses. It's particularly helpful when you need money to rebuild your home or repair your car after flooding, fire, earthquake, or any disaster.
Most emergency loans in the Philippines come from three sources: private lenders, government agencies, and employers.
👉 Emergency Loans from Private Lenders
Of the three common providers of emergency loans in the Philippines, private lenders offer the simplest application process, as well as the fastest approval and fund release. This is because they usually don't require a bank account.
Many emergency loan applications can be filed online nowadays, after which you'll know if you're approved for the loan within 5 to 10 minutes. With online emergency loans, you can also receive funds on the same day or even in a matter of minutes.
This is why emergency loans appeal to the unemployed and those with low income or poor credit history. Urgent cash loans for unemployed Filipinos are ideal for when you need cash ASAP but are likely to get declined by banks because you don't have proof of income. Online lenders require only valid IDs and don't usually require as many income documents as banks do.
Great as they seem during dire financial situations, emergency loans are a notoriously expensive way to borrow money in the Philippines. Interest rates are between 1% and 1.5% per day, which translates to an annual percentage rate[3] of around 500% to as much as 3,000%.
Moreover, loan amounts are small. The highest amount you can borrow is typically ₱20,000. Emergency loans in the Philippines also come with very short terms, usually 30 days, so you've got a very limited time to return the amount you borrowed plus the interest.
👍 Advantages of Emergency Loans from Private Lenders
- Quick and easy way to get cash
- Easy requirements
- Simple online application process
- Fast approval and loan disbursement
👎 Disadvantages of Emergency Loans from Private Lenders
- Small loan amounts
- Short repayment terms
- Higher interest rates
Wondering, "Where can I borrow money ASAP in the Philippines?" If you need to loan 50K in the Philippines, check out the loan providers below. They require a few documents only and disburse loans quickly.
📌 RFC Multi-Purpose Loan
Thinking of where to loan 20K in the Philippines that’s quick and easy? Get additional cash for emergency expenses like medical bills, car or house repairs, or money to spend if you suddenly lose your job with an RFC Multi-Purpose Loan. Fund both emergency and even non-emergency expenses like trips, celebrations, and furniture or appliance upgrades.
Because there’s no collateral required, RFC loan application processing and disbursement take as fast as 24 hours. It’s legit and reliable, especially if you’re looking for where to borrow money safely.
- Loanable amount: ₱10,000 to ₱150,000
- Interest rate: 4%
- Loan tenure: Up to 12 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱10,000
- Processing time: As fast as 24 hours
- Loan application fee: None
📌 GLoan
Do you use GCash a lot? As long as you have a fully verified GCash account and you meet the GScore requirement, you can qualify for the GLoan. If you're a pre-qualified GCash user, you can see GLoan on your dashboard and apply right away.
Follow the instructions and fill out the online application form. Once completed, you’ll receive the GLoan proceeds in your GCash instantly. There’s no need to prepare and submit more loan requirements—it's a quick and convenient option for an emergency loan in the Philippines.
If you’re not yet eligible for a loan from GCash, that’s okay. Just keep using GCash to raise your GScore and unlock GLoan.
- Loanable amount: Up to ₱125,000
- Interest rate: 1.59%
- Loan tenure: Up to 24 months
- Minimum monthly income: None
- Processing time: Instantly
- Loan processing fee: 3% of the principal amount
📌 Home Credit Cash Loan
Need cash for an unexpected expense? Check out Home Credit's multi-purpose cash loans. Home Credit approves applications in as fast as one minute! Plus, you only need one valid ID to apply for a Home Credit Cash Loan.
However, keep in mind that Home Credit offers its Cash Loan only to existing Home Credit customers with a good record.
- Loanable amount: Up to ₱150,000
- Interest rate: Starts at 1.83% monthly add-on rate for a 12-month loan
- Loan tenure: 6 to 60 months
- Processing time: 1 minute
📌 UnaCash Loan
With UnaCash, you can finish the entire application process through its all-digital cash loan app. To qualify, you need only to be at least 18 years old and have a mobile number and a valid email address. Borrowers with good credit standing can get repeat loans.
- Loanable amount: ₱1,000 to ₱50,000
- Interest rate: 0% to 16%
- Loan tenure: Up to 6 months
- Processing time: Within 5 minutes
📌 JuanHand Loan
JuanHand is currently one of the most popular mobile lending platforms. You'll have to start small with your first loan amount, but if you repay on time, you can get a higher amount the next time you borrow. Take note that you'll need a stable source of income and at least one government-issued ID to qualify.
- Loanable amount: ₱2,000 to ₱15,000
- Interest rate: 9% to 12%
- Loan tenure: Up to 3 months
- Processing time: 1 to 2 days
📌 Online Loans Pilipinas Loan
The maximum loan amount for first-time borrowers at Online Loans Pilipinas is ₱7,000. You can only apply for bigger amounts up to ₱20,000 if you’re a repeat borrower with good standing. To apply, you need to be employed with a valid mobile number, government-issued ID, and bank or e-wallet account.
- Loanable amount: ₱1,000 to ₱20,000
- Interest rate: 0% to 15%
- Loan tenure: 30 days
- Processing time: Just a few minutes
📌 Digido Emergency Loan
When you need a small amount for medical reasons, Digido has got you covered. This Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered online lender offers a quick emergency loan with an easy, hassle-free transaction through its website. You just need to provide a valid ID, active mobile number, and proof of income to avail of the loan.
Upon approval (which is sent through email or SMS), the loan proceeds will be deposited to your nominated bank account.
- Loanable amount: Up to ₱10,000 (for first-timers) / Up to ₱25,000 (for repeat borrowers)
- Interest rate: 11.9% per month
- Loan tenure: Three to six months
- Processing time: As fast as 24 hours
👉 Calamity Loans from Government Agencies
Looking for available government loans? The SSS, GSIS, and Pag-IBIG Fund assist survivors of natural disasters in the Philippines through their respective emergency loans or calamity loans. If you live in an area officially declared under a state of calamity, you can apply for an emergency loan from one of these government offices.
Compared to private lenders, the SSS, GSIS, and Pag-IBIG Fund offer longer repayment terms and significantly lower interest rates. However, you must be an active member of these agencies with consistent contributions of at least six months to qualify for a loan.
Here's a table that shows the key features of emergency loans from the three Philippine government agencies. For more details on how to apply for these emergency loans from Philippine government agencies, check out this primer.[4]
👉 Emergency Loans from Employers
Some companies in the Philippines offer emergency loans to their employees affected by calamities. Others provide these loans as part of their employee benefits package, which workers can avail of any time they need cash for emergencies.
Emergency loans from employers are cheaper compared to other lenders, as they don't typically charge interest. Repayments are also convenient and flexible since they're deducted from an employee's succeeding paychecks or from their 13th-month pay.
The company you're currently working for may be offering an emergency loan program. Check with your HR department and take advantage of it.
Option 3: Salary Loans
Another form of emergency loan in the Philippines is a salary loan. It’s similar to emergency loans from private lenders as it also provides borrowers quick and easy access to cash online. The interest rates are also higher than personal loans from banks.
Salary loans have slightly higher loan amounts and stricter application requirements. Some lenders lend up to ₱50,000 and require income documents such as payslips and bank statements.
👍 Advantages of Salary Loans
- Quick and hassle-free access to cash online
- Higher loan amounts
👎 Disadvantages of Salary Loans
- Stricter application requirements
- Shorter repayment periods
You can apply for a salary loan online through the following salary loan providers:
📌 Tala Loan
When there’s a cash emergency, it’s better if you can apply for a short-term loan and get the cash ASAP using your mobile device. And that’s exactly what you can expect from a Tala Loan.
Borrow as much as ₱25,000 by filling out the online application from the Tala app. Make sure you have one valid ID. You can get approved within minutes!
Download the Tala app from the Google Play Store to get your Tala loan application started. It’s a trusted and secure app, so you don’t have to worry about your data falling into the wrong hands. You can choose your repayment date from one to 60 days so you’re always on top of your finances.
- Loanable amount: ₱1,000 to ₱25,000
- Interest rate: Flat daily fee of as low as 0.5%
- Loan tenure: Up to 61 days
- Minimum monthly income: None
- Processing time: In a few minutes
📌 Cash Mart Salary Loan
When it’s petsa de peligro and something urgent comes up, there’s no choice but to look for an emergency cash loan in the Philippines. Salary loan providers like Cash Mart can give you instant cash of up to ₱50,000.
But since it’s a salary loan, the due date is every 7 days, 14 days, or 28 days. This means that it’s for people who want to borrow money and plan to pay it off right away.
- Loanable amount: ₱3,000 to ₱30,000
- Interest rate: 0.0571 %
- Loan tenure: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
- Minimum monthly income: None
- Processing time: 1 day
- Loan processing fee: 10% of the principal amount
📌 Vidalia Salary Loan
When times are hard, you probably ask yourself “Where can I borrow money?” on a regular basis. Well, wonder no more because you can always borrow from Vidalia Lending Corp. The company has been providing salary loans, personal loans, as well as business loans, since 2008.
So if you ever find yourself short on cash, consider a salary loan from Vidalia. Whether it's to pay off your credit card or a major expense, this salary loan offers flexible installment payments for your urgent financial needs. More importantly, you don’t need a guarantor to take out and get approved for a loan.
- Loanable amount: ₱15,000 to ₱50,000
- Interest rate: 6%
- Loan tenure: 2 to 12 months
- Minimum monthly income: ₱15,000 for employed and ₱30,000 for self-employed
- Processing time: One to two days
- Loan processing fee: 5%
Option 4: Pawning or Sangla
Like the 5-6 pautang in the Philippines, pawn loans or sangla is a popular way to get quick cash in the Philippines. This is especially true in rural areas where pawnshops outnumber banks and ATMs. If you need a source of quick cash for emergencies, all you have to do is to give your collateral, such as jewelry or gadgets.
No need for credit checks and income documents—just make sure your collateral is authentic and valuable. Pawnshops charge interest rates as low as 1% over a one-month term.
Note that pawning your valuable items can be risky. You might not get it back if you fail to pay the amount you borrowed within the loan term.
👍 Advantages of Pawning
- No credit checks and income documents required
- Lots of pawn shops everywhere in the Philippines, even in remote areas where only a few bank branches are located
👎 Disadvantages of Pawning
- Requires collateral
- You can't get back your pawned item if you default on payments
Option 5: Emergency Loans from Family and Friends
"Pautang naman. Bayaran kita sa sweldo." It's that easy to borrow money from your loved ones when you need it. Your ever-reliable tita, brother, BFF, or office teammate is just a phone call or text message away.
With this kind of emergency loan in the Philippines, there are no documents required, no collateral needed, no interest to pay, and no payment due dates to worry about. You can just pay back what you owe when you can. No wonder plenty of Filipinos are indebted to their family, relatives, and friends.
Of course, this type of emergency loan in the Philippines comes at a cost. Break your promise to return the amount you borrowed, and you'll easily lose their trust and the chance to borrow from them again.
As much as you can, avoid being too dependent on your loved ones. Making them your go-to pautangan isn't worth all the conflict, drama, and stress that can ruin any relationship.
Advantages of Emergency Loans from Family and Friends
- Just a text or phone call to borrow cash
- No application forms and income documents required
- Usually interest-free and flexible repayments
Disadvantages of Emergency Loans from Family and Friends
- Can cause stress and anxiety when you default on payments
- Loss of trust when you can't return the amount borrowed
Final Thoughts
Have you tried any of these options for an emergency loan in the Philippines? There's no shame in asking for financial aid when the going gets tough. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain and pay back what you owe, you'll come out of these hard times unscathed.
Start applying for emergency loans and personal loans the right way by being a realistic and responsible borrower.
Sources:
- [1] 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey (BSP)
- [2] What Are Emergency Loans? (Forbes, 2022)
- [3] Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Definition (Investopedia, 2022)
- [4] Briefer: How to Apply for a Calamity Loan (Official Gazette)
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