For borrowers
Built for the week you didn’t see coming.
Zero-interest emergency loans up to $2,500, repaid quietly through your paycheck over no more than six months. No credit check. No fees. No judgment. Just a bridge.
What VIGA is
A loan that costs you exactly what you borrowed.
VIGA is a nonprofit that provides zero-interest emergency loans of up to $2,500 to working people facing sudden financial crises. A broken-down car. A medical bill. A utility shutoff. A flight to say goodbye to someone. A few hundred dollars at the right moment is the difference between a crisis that closes and one that follows you for months.
There is no interest. There are no fees of any kind. There is no credit check. You repay through your paycheck, in small amounts, over no more than six months. When the loan is paid back, the same money goes to the next person who needs it.
You repay exactly what you borrowed. Nothing more.
What you can borrow
Nine sizes. Four to twelve pay cycles.
Choose the smallest loan that solves the problem. The shorter the term, the lighter the deduction from each paycheck.
Example
A $1,500 loan over eight pay cycles repays at $187.50 per paycheck — about four months in total.
Your per-paycheck deduction is capped at twenty percent of your gross pay. If a loan amount would exceed that cap, we will offer you the largest loan that fits comfortably within it.
Just the loan. Returned dollar for dollar.
How to apply
Four steps. About ten minutes.
-
01
Confirm your employer is enrolled
Check whether your employer is a VIGA Supporting Employer. If they are, you can apply directly. If not, tell us — we will reach out on your behalf. Enrollment is free for employers and takes about fifteen minutes.
-
02
Apply online
The application takes about twenty minutes. We verify your identity, employment, and income through Plaid — a secure service used by most major banks. No paperwork. No credit check.
-
03
Tell us what you need, and name a Witness
Describe what the loan is for, and upload an estimate if you have one — a vet bill, a repair quote, an invoice. Then name one Witness: a friend or family member, eighteen or older, who acknowledges that you have applied. The Witness carries no legal liability. It is simply that no loan should happen in secret.
-
04
Receive funds in 24 to 48 hours
Once your application is approved and your Witness acknowledges, VIGA sends the loan directly to your bank account by ACH transfer.
If your employer isn’t enrolled yet, we’ll help you ask them. Tell us about your employer →
Protections
What you carry. What you don’t.
VIGA is built to relieve crisis, not to deepen it. The terms below are not perks or promotional offers. They are the architecture of the program.
What you carry
- The principal amount, exactly
- A per-paycheck deduction capped at 20% of gross pay
- A hardship pause of up to 90 days for serious life events
- Portability if you change employers
What you don’t carry
- Interest, of any kind
- Fees, of any kind
- A credit check — ever
- Credit-bureau reporting
- Collections or court action
- Judgment
If you cannot repay, tell us. Hardship pauses exist for exactly this. The only thing that closes the door is missing two consecutive payments without reaching out. We will not pursue you in court. We will not refer you to collections. We will not report you to credit bureaus. We will, however, not be able to lend to you again.
VIGA is built on the model of Akhuwat — the world’s largest interest-free microfinance organization. The model works. We’re bringing it home.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered plainly.
-
Who can apply for a VIGA loan?
You must be at least eighteen, a U.S. resident, and employed in good standing by a VIGA Supporting Employer. We verify your identity, employment, and income through Plaid — a secure service used by most major banks.
-
What if my employer isn’t enrolled?
Tell us and we will reach out to them on your behalf. Many employers say yes within a week. Enrollment is free, takes about fifteen minutes, and creates no financial liability for them.
-
Will this affect my credit?
No. VIGA does not check your credit, does not report to credit bureaus, and will never appear on your credit history — even if you miss payments.
-
How fast can I get the money?
After your application is approved and your Witness acknowledges, funds typically arrive in your bank account within 24 to 48 hours by ACH transfer.
-
What is a Witness, exactly?
One person, eighteen or older, who acknowledges that you have applied for a VIGA loan. They are not a co-signer, not a guarantor, and have no legal or financial liability. We may reach out to them if we cannot reach you. It is one of the oldest practices in interest-free lending: a loan should not happen in secret.
-
What if I lose my job or face a serious life event?
You can request a hardship pause of up to ninety days. We pause your payroll deductions during that time. Your loan term extends by the length of the pause. The loan amount is not forgiven, but the pressure is.
-
What happens if I miss a payment?
One missed payment triggers a call from us — to understand, not to collect. Two consecutive missed payments without contact is Default. Default means you cannot apply for another VIGA loan. We will not pursue you in court, will not refer you to collections, and will not report you to credit bureaus.
-
Can I borrow again later?
Yes. You can apply for a new VIGA loan twelve months after your previous loan is fully repaid.
When you’re ready.
The application is free, takes about twenty minutes, and creates no obligation. Even if you decide not to proceed, you’ll know what’s possible.
Apply NowQuestions? Write to us.