A no interest loan or StepUP low interest loan helps you borrow money quickly to get back on your feet.
Repayments are affordable, there are no fees or charges, and it’s a lot cheaper than a payday loan.
If you’re struggling to make ends meet, see urgent help with money for free services that can help.
Loans without interest: apply for a Household Relief Loan to pay for rent and utilities if you’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19. Loans are for up to $3,000, have no interest or fees and are repayable over 24 months.
No interest loans
A no interest loan lets you borrow up to $1,500 to pay for essentials. Repayments are affordable and the loan term is between 12 and 18 months. There are no credit checks.
The best part is you pay no interest, fees or charges. You only repay what you borrow.
Who can get a no interest loan
To get a no interest loan you must:
- have a Health Care Card, a Pensioner Concession Card or an income less than $45,000 per year after tax
- have lived at your current address for more than three months
- show that you can repay the loan
How to get a no interest loan
Get a no interest loan in two steps:
Step 1. Visit the no interest loan scheme (NILS) website and call your local NILS provider to arrange a meeting.
Step 2. When you meet, they will help you with your application and work out your repayments.
How long will it take?
The loan assessment usually takes between 45 and 90 minutes.
No interest loans are usually approved within 2 days. If you bring all your paperwork, it can be approved on the same day.
What you can buy with a no interest loan
You can use a no interest loan to pay for:
- household items, like a fridge, washing machine, computer or furniture
- educational materials, like a tablet or textbooks
- some medical and dental services
- car repairs and tyres
Ask your NILS provider if you need something that’s not on this list.
No interest loans are not cash loans. The NILS provider will generally give you a cheque addressed to the supplier.
StepUP low interest loans
A StepUP loan is a low interest loan for people on lower incomes who find it hard to borrow from a bank.
With a StepUP loan you can borrow between $800 and $3,000. It has a low interest rate (fixed at 5.99%) and no fees or charges.
You have up to three years to pay back the loan with weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments.
Who can get a low interest loan
To get a low interest loan you must:
- have a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card, or be receiving Family Tax Benefit A
- have lived at your current premises for more than three months
How to get a low interest loan
Get a low interest loan in three steps:
Step 1. Visit the StepUP loan website and call your local StepUP loan provider to arrange a meeting.
Step 2. They will help you with your application and work out your repayments.
You’ll need:
- your Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or documents to show your finances
- documents showing you’ve lived at your current address for more than three months
Step 3. The StepUP loan provider gives your loan application to the National Australia Bank (NAB). NAB assesses your application and checks your credit report.
If your loan is approved, you’ll need to visit an NAB branch to sign the loan contract. You will get a cheque made out to the supplier.
What you can buy with a low interest loan
You can use a low interest loan to pay for:
- a secondhand car, car repairs or tyres
- whitegoods, like a fridge, stove or washing machine
- furniture
- computers, laptops and tablets
- vocational education materials
- medical expenses
Ask your StepUP provider if you need something that’s not on this list.
What StepUP loans cost
You can work out your repayments with our personal loan calculator. Set the interest rate to 5.99% and the fees to $0. You can choose weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments.
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Source: ASIC MoneySmart
