If you are applying for a loan with a traditional bank, you will need to have a good credit score to get the cash you need. This is not always the case with a small payday loan. In fact, most lenders (the non-traditional kind) will still consider you for a loan if you have a shaky financial past. The most important part of the process is ensuring that you can afford the monthly or weekly repayments by considering your income vs. your expenditure.