How the online application process works

Learn what information you need to have ready before you apply for an unsecured personal loan online, and what happens after you submit your application.

If you can’t apply online, you can visit a branch or call us on 13 22 65 and have our loan experts assist you.

Before you apply

Check how much you can afford to borrow

Use our unsecured personal loan borrowing power calculator to work out how much you can afford to borrow, and what your repayments will be based on your income and lifestyle.

It’s important to us that you’re able to comfortably make repayments. We look at your creditworthiness and take steps to ensure you’re not given a product that isn’t right for you, and an amount you can’t afford to repay.

You can check what your repayments might be with our unsecured personal loan repayment calculator or check out our tips for managing your creditworthiness before you apply.

Check you’re eligible

Make sure you meet our eligibility requirements. You should be:

  • 18 years or older

  • applying as a sole applicant. You’ll have all the repayment obligations, even if someone else will be receiving a substantial benefit from the loan

  • receiving a regular income

  • an Australian resident for tax purposes

  • an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident or have an acceptable Temporary Residency Visa.

The following Visa categories aren’t acceptable:

  • Visitor Visa (exception, a Special Category Visa - NZ Citizen is acceptable), Working Holiday, Student, Exchange/gap year, Transit/short stay/seasonal and Bridging.

Have these items ready

Check that you have the following things with you when you do your application:

  • Driver's licence number (if you have one).

  • Employment details for the past three years.

  • Your income before and after tax.

  • Addresses you've lived at in the last three years.

  • What assets you own, including cars and homes.

  • What debts you owe, including personal loans, home loans, credit cards or buy now, pay later loans.

  • Your general living expenses including food and groceries, recreation, education and dependents, rent, medical and health, insurance, vehicle and transport.

  • An account to nominate for the disbursement of your loan funds.

  • If approved, to receive your loan funds you will need to nominate an account for direct debit to automate your repayments.

Important:  For newly approved loans, NAB joint accounts are not eligible to nominate for direct debit. You’ll need to set up a direct debit using a NAB account solely in your name or a non-NAB bank account. If you’re not a sole NAB account holder and you’d like to open a NAB transaction account, please do so before you apply for the loan. Find out more about NAB transaction accounts. Eligible NAB joint accounts can be used for direct debit only after the loan account has been set up.

I already bank with NAB

If you’re an existing customer:

  • save time and use your NAB ID to prefill your personal and financial information (this includes debts you have with other financial institutions)

  • save your online application part way by clicking Save and continue (you have 30 days to return and complete your application)

I don’t bank with NAB yet

If you’re a new customer, you’ll need to provide at least one form of ID in the online application form:

  • Australian driver’s licence

  • Australian passport

  • International passport.

If you prefer to visit a NAB branch to verify your identify, you will need to provide some additional documents.

After you apply

Assessing your application

Once you’ve completed your online application, you’ll receive an onscreen message, along with an SMS and email, with your final decision and next steps. If you can’t find the email, make sure you check your spam folder.

Verifying your information

If you’re conditionally approved, we’ll need to verify the information in your application.

  • If your salary goes into a NAB account, we’ll try to do this immediately and, if successful, you may receive your unconditional loan offer within minutes.
  • If we can’t verify your information automatically, we’ll send you an email requesting some extra documents from you. Simply reply to the email with the requested documents attached and a dedicated case manager will be assigned to review your application.

You don’t need to call us. If we need more information, we’ll reach out to you directly.

If your loan isn’t approved, you’ll be notified by SMS and email.

Learn more about how we verify your income.

Things to know about your dedicated case manager

  • It may take 1-2 business days for a case manager to be assigned to you. But don’t worry – your application is progressing, and we’ll reach out if we need anything.
  • You’ll receive an SMS, once your case manager has been assigned, containing their contact details.
  • If your case manager needs to talk to you and they can’t reach you, they’ll leave a voicemail with their contact details. You’ll also receive an email that outlines the information they need to complete your application.
  • If you need to speak with us and are unable to contact your case manager, it’s important that you leave a voicemail and clearly state your name and contact details. Your case manager will call you back on the same day.

Please note, if you can’t see your application in your internet banking, this just means your case manager is working on your application.

Receiving your unconditional approval and accepting your loan offer

Once we’ve successfully verified your information, you’ll receive an SMS and email advising that your application has been fully approved and next steps.

From here, to get your loan funds you’ll need to accept your loan offer documents in the Application Tracker and provide account details to set up a direct debit to automate your repayments.

Important: NAB joint accounts are not eligible to nominate for direct debit. You’ll need to set up a direct debit using a NAB account solely in your name or a non-NAB bank account. If you’re not a sole NAB account holder and you’d like to open a NAB transaction account, please do so before you apply for the loan. Find out more about NAB transaction accounts. Eligible NAB joint accounts can be used for direct debit only after the loan account has been set up.

To get started in accepting your loan offer, go to set up your personal loan and follow the instructions to complete this process in the Application Tracker.

Once you’ve accepted your loan offer documents and set up your direct debit repayments, you’ll receive an SMS and email to confirm your loan account is active and loan funds have been deposited into your nominated account (usually within 1 business day). You’ll also receive another SMS confirming the status of your Direct Debit set up.

Want to get started?

Explore our personal loans to help you compare options.

Find out more

Help and support

We have guides and other resources to help you apply for a new personal loan or manage your existing one.

Terms and Conditions

Consider the NAB Internet Banking Terms and Conditions which apply when using NAB Internet Banking.