Frequently Asked Questions

Click any Apply Now button, choose your amount and loan type, and complete the secure form with your personal, income, and banking details. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and can be done entirely from your phone or computer — no branch visit and no paperwork to mail.

Four things: a government-issued ID showing you're 18 or older, proof of income (a recent pay stub, benefits statement, or bank deposits if self-employed), an active checking account, and a working phone number and email. For title loans, you'll also need a lien-free vehicle title in your name.

About 5 minutes to complete, and most applicants receive a decision within minutes of submitting. Having your documents ready before you start is the best way to keep things moving.

No. Pre-qualification uses a soft inquiry, which does not appear to other lenders and does not affect your score. You can check what you qualify for with zero credit impact and no obligation to accept.

The most common reasons are income that doesn't comfortably support the requested payment, an inactive or overdrawn bank account, unverifiable information, or applying from a state where we don't operate. A decline isn't permanent — many applicants qualify later with a smaller amount or updated income.

Yes. If your situation changes — new job, higher income, a smaller requested amount — you're welcome to apply again. Requesting less than your maximum is the single most effective way to improve your odds.

Three products: installment loans ($500–$5,000, repaid in fixed payments over 3–12 months), cash advances ($200–$1,000, repaid in one payment on your next payday), and title-secured loans (up to $5,000, using a paid-off vehicle's title as collateral while you keep driving it).

Repayment structure. A cash advance is repaid all at once on your next payday — best for small, short gaps. An installment loan spreads repayment across fixed scheduled payments over months — best for larger amounts. Our full comparison guide covers costs side by side.

You borrow against a vehicle you own outright. A lien is placed on the title while you repay monthly installments over 3–12 months, and you keep driving the car the entire time. When the final payment clears, the lien is released. Amounts are based on the vehicle's value plus your ability to repay.

From $200 up to $5,000 depending on the product, your income, and your state: cash advances run $200–$1,000, installment loans $500–$5,000, and title loans up to $5,000 based on vehicle value.

Two questions decide it: how much do you need, and how do you want to repay? Under $1,000 with one paycheck able to cover it — cash advance. Larger amounts or repayment over months — installment loan. Own your car outright and want a larger amount or better rate — title-secured loan.

Loan products, amounts, rates, and terms vary by state and are subject to state licensing. Check our Rates & Licenses page to see exactly what's available where you live.

Your exact rate depends on your state, product, amount, and term — and you'll see every figure in writing before you sign: the payment amount, the schedule, and the total you'll repay. Nothing is finalized until you've seen and accepted those numbers.

APR annualizes cost, and short-term small-dollar loans compress their fees into weeks or months, which produces high annualized figures. That's why the most useful number for comparison is the total dollar cost you'll repay — always disclosed upfront — and why these loans fit short-term needs, not long-term borrowing.

No. There's no application fee, and every cost appears in your loan agreement before you sign. What you see there is the complete price.

No — never. Pay your loan off ahead of schedule any time, and you'll reduce the total interest you pay. Early payoff on a title loan also releases your title sooner.

A $1,000 installment loan repaid over 6 months at an APR of 189% would require 12 bi-weekly payments of $127.72, for a total repayment of $1,532.64. This is an illustration only — your actual figures depend on your state and application, and are disclosed before you sign.

Rates vary by state law, product, loan amount, term, and your individual application. The example shows the structure of the math; your loan agreement shows your real numbers — compare the total repayment figure, not just the rate.

Yes — all credit types are considered. Applications are evaluated on income, employment, and ability to repay rather than a single credit score. Approval isn't guaranteed, but a low score alone won't disqualify you.

Checking your rate uses a soft inquiry that doesn't affect your score. Our underwriting focuses on income and ability to repay rather than relying primarily on traditional credit scores.

You must be at least 18, live in a state we serve, have a verifiable source of regular income, and hold an active checking account. Title loans additionally require a lien-free vehicle title in your name.

Yes. Social Security, disability, and other regular benefits count, as does self-employment income you can document with bank deposits. What matters is that the income is regular and verifiable.

Applications are individual — approval is based on your own income and ability to repay, so no cosigner is needed or used.

Yes. The federal Military Lending Act caps rates for active-duty servicemembers and their dependents at 36% MAPR, which is below typical short-term loan pricing — so most short-term products can't be offered to covered borrowers. Check military aid societies and on-base financial counseling for alternatives designed for you.

Most applicants get a decision within minutes. If approved and verified, funds can be sent as soon as the same business day — by debit card push (typically minutes, where available) or bank transfer (same day to next business day depending on your bank).

Earlier is better. Morning applications on a business day leave time for verification before funding cut-offs; approvals late in the day, on weekends, or on bank holidays typically fund the next business day.

Two ways: an instant-style push to your debit card, or a standard transfer to your checking account. You choose during the application; the debit card option is fastest where available.

No — and treat any lender who guarantees it as a red flag. Funding today depends on approval time, verification, and your bank's processing. We offer fast decisions and same-business-day funding for approved, verified applications when timing allows.

Cash Store operates online, so funds are delivered electronically to your debit card or bank account rather than as in-person cash — for most approved customers that's faster than a store visit anyway.

Payments are collected automatically from your checking account on your scheduled dates, and you can also make manual or extra payments any time. Your schedule is listed in your loan agreement.

Often, yes — due dates are usually matched to your pay dates at setup, and if your pay schedule changes, contact us and we'll work to realign the schedule where state rules allow.

Any time, with no prepayment penalty. Early payoff reduces the total interest you pay, and on title loans it releases your lien sooner.

Late or missed payments can add fees under your agreement and may be reported to credit bureaus, which can hurt your credit. If a payment is at risk, contact us before the due date — early communication opens options a missed payment closes.

Call us as soon as you know. Depending on your state and situation, options may include adjusted schedules or workout arrangements. What we won't recommend is borrowing elsewhere to repay us — that cycle makes everything worse.

We discourage rollovers — repeatedly extending a short-term loan is the most expensive pattern in consumer lending, and many states restrict it. If repayment is a struggle, contact us to discuss alternatives instead of re-borrowing.

Yes. Applications run over 256-bit encryption, your data is stored securely, and we never sell your personal information. Our Privacy Policy spells out exactly what's collected and how it's used.

Cash Store operates under applicable state lending licenses and, where required by state law, arranges loans through licensed third-party lenders. Full licensing details and state-required disclosures are on our Rates & Licenses page.

Your state's financial regulator (typically the Department of Financial Institutions or Banking) licenses and supervises lenders, and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) enforces federal consumer-credit laws like the Truth in Lending Act.

Start with us — most issues resolve fastest directly. If you're not satisfied, you can contact your state financial regulator or submit a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov. Both routes are free.

Nonprofit credit counseling agencies (find one via nfcc.org), the CFPB's guides at consumerfinance.gov, and 211.org for local assistance programs. If borrowing feels like the only option every month, these resources are the better first call.