Nov 25, 2020

Payday Loans Los Angeles CA – How to Apply for a Safe Payday Advance

Written by Grace Kilander
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You might be looking for ways to borrow a little extra money. Payday loans are common for those needing fast cash, but buyer beware.



Payday loans are still legal in places like Los Angeles, CA but their triple digit APR’s will burn holes right through your pockets. What you thought was a quick fix, might end up being a revolving door of extra fees and interest. Read on to find out how you can avoid high interest payday loans.

Not all cash advances are created equal and you should keep that in mind when shopping around. Most payday lenders don’t require credit checks nor do they require proof that you have the means to pay back the amount you borrow. Which is why payday loans are known to have predatory tactics.  

Listen, we’ve all hit those financial bumps in the road. The good news is there’s alternative options like Instacash from MoneyLion. Similar to most payday loans in that there’s no credit pull required. Unlike payday loans, Instacash has no interest or fees! 

Max Advance Amount: $250

APR: 0%

Credit Affects: None

Contrary to payday loans, Instacash is a small advance on income you’ve yet to receive, but you already worked for. This feature from MoneyLion is free to use and you can link a RoarMoney or any external bank account. 

First, link your checking account to your RoarMoney account or external account. MoneyLion then securely reviews your banking history to ensure it meets a few qualifications criteria. Keep in mind, your chances of a higher cash advance amount increases when you link your direct deposit to your RoarMoney account. 

You’ll find out within seconds how much you’re going to receive. On your next payday, the amount you borrow will be deducted from your account with zero interest.  



Need your money now? Opt for turbo delivery and pay a small fee to get your money instantly! 

How to Qualify: 

  • Be 18 years of age or older

  • Active linked bank account 

  • Steady Income or deposits 

  • A bank account that has been open for 60 days or more

  • Your bank account must have a positive balance 

Max Payday Loan Amount: $300

APR: Up to 460%

Credit Affects: Yes, your credit could be negatively impacted. Typically, payday lenders don’t pull credit, but they’ll report you to the credit bureaus immediately if you’re late or miss a payment. 

In California payday loans are also known as deferred deposit transactions. Be on the lookout for fraudulent lenders who claim to be licensed. You can verify licenses for lenders here state by state. 

Although regulations on payday loans have been tightened up throughout Los Angeles and California, lenders could be operating out of state and charge you higher interest rates. They could illegally collect money directly from your bank account without your permission, even when you don’t have the means to pay back the loan.  

How to Qualify: 

  • Must be 18 

  • Valid government issued ID

  • Must reside in California

  • Proof of steady stream or source of income

  • Active checking account; using prepaid debit cards and prepaid checks vary by location 

  • Account open for at least one month

  • Social Security number (if applying online)

  • Active phone number 

  • Must not be active in a bankruptcy case or presently intend to file for bankruptcy 

  • Must not be a member (or dependent) of any branch of the U.S military (including coast guard and national guard) currently serving active duty under orders more than 30 days, or a member of the reserves on active duty.



If a few hundred dollars doesn’t cut it in case of an emergency, a loan might be a better option. Let’s take a look at another affordable option to get more cash in your pocket. 

Loan Amount: Qualify up to $1,000

Credit Affects: Yes, the average Credit Builder Loan user can boost their credit score by 60 points in 60 days! This is why making on-time payments is important, negative marks could bring your credit down drastically.

A Credit Builder Loan from MoneyLion is the ideal loan for anyone who’s struggling to borrow with little to no credit. We use your primary bank account history to determine eligibility without pulling your credit. Upon approval, your loan terms are set over 12 months making your payments affordable and predictable. 

You’ll have access to same-day money and the rest of your loan funds are held in a reserve account. After you’ve paid the loan back in full, your reserve account funds are released to you. This extra step encourages healthy borrowing habits and helps you boost your credit faster! 

How to Qualify:

  • Must be 18 years of age

  • U.S citizen or permanent resident of the U.S

  • Have a Social Security number

  • A form of payment either by bank account, credit card, or prepaid debit card

  • No credit check or credit history necessary to apply!

What’s Included?

  • Loan up $1,000 with instant approval

  • Weekly credit updates 

  • Credit improvement up to 60 points in 60 days

  • Exclusive Instacash benefits

  • 12-month loan term with affordable payments

  • Credit Reserve Account that holds some of your funds and earns interest while you pay off your loan. 

Choosing the right cash advance or loan can be tricky. As seen below, putting your lender options side by side with their offer details will help you narrow down your decision.

Instacash

Credit Builder Loan

In-Person Payday Lender

How Much Can You Borrow?

$250

$1,000

$300

Fees & Interest

Free0% APR

Competitive APR$19.99/month fee

Up to 460% APR Fee

Impacts Your Credit?

No

Yes, it builds your credit score.

Yes, derogatory payments could impact your score. Although on-time payments will not improve your score

Availability

– Mobile Device– Apply any time

– Mobile Device– Apply any time

Online & In-Person

Wait Time

Instantly*

Instantly

Same Day or Next Day

Next Steps

Sign Up

Sign Up

Find A Lender

Although payday loans have built a reputation around getting cash quickly, they aren’t the safest contender. Alternatives like Instacash and Credit Builder Loans from MoneyLion offer instant and low-cost lending without the hefty interest and fees.  

Wishing your paycheck would come sooner? MoneyLion account holders can get paid up to 2 days early. Simply link your direct deposits to your RoarMoney account and fast forward to payday!


Grace Kilander
Written by
Grace Kilander
Grace Kilander is a freelance content writer based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. After 15 years she left the hospitality industry, started multiple businesses and launched her writing career. Her passions including all things health, wellness and sustainability. In her free time, you’ll find her enjoying hot pilates classes and spending time outdoors with her husband, son and two dogs.

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Credit Builder Plus membership ($19.99/mo) unlocks eligibility for Credit Builder Plus loans and other exclusive services. This optional offer is not a Pathward product or service. A soft credit pull will be conducted which has no impact to your credit score. Credit Builder Plus loans have an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from 5.99% APR to 29.99% APR, are made by either exempt or state-licensed subsidiaries of MoneyLion Inc., and require a loan payment in addition to the membership payment. The Credit Builder Plus loan may, at lender’s discretion, require a portion of the loan proceeds to be deposited into a reserve account maintained by ML Wealth LLC and held by Drivewealth LLC, member SIPC and FINRA. The funds in this account will be placed into money market and/or cash sweep vehicles, and may generate interest at prevailing market rates. You will not be able to access the portion of your loan proceeds held in the credit reserve account until you have paid off your loan. If you default on your loan, your credit reserve account may be liquidated by the lender to partially or fully satisfy your outstanding indebtedness. May not be available in all states. Credit Reserve Accounts Are Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • Investments May Lose Value. For important information and disclaimers relating to the MoneyLion Credit Reserve Account, see Investment Account FAQs and FORM ADV.

Credit score improvement is not guaranteed. A soft credit pull will be conducted which has no impact to your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus, and on-time payment history is only one of many factors that such bureaus consider. Your credit score may be negatively impacted by other financial decisions you make, or by activities or services you engage in with other financial services organizations. MoneyLion is not a Credit Services Organization.

Instacash® is an optional service offered by MoneyLion. Your available Instacash Advance limit will be displayed to you in the MoneyLion mobile app and may change from time to time. Your limit will be based on your direct deposits, account transaction history, and other factors, as determined by MoneyLion. Expedited delivery requires Turbo Fee. See Instacash Terms and Conditions for more information and eligibility requirements.

MoneyLion does not provide, nor does it guarantee, any third-party product, service, information, or recommendation. The third parties providing these products or services are solely responsible for them, as well as all other content on their websites. MoneyLion is not liable for any third party's failure with regard to those advertised products, services, and benefits. These advertised products and services may not be FDIC insured or bank-guaranteed, and may be subject to a different privacy policy than MoneyLion’s. You should check individual offers, products, and services to become familiar with any applicable restrictions or conditions that may apply. MoneyLion may receive compensation from third parties for referring you to the third party, their products or to their website.

MoneyLion is a financial technology company, not a bank. RoarMoney℠ demand deposit account provided by, and MoneyLion Debit Mastercard® issued by, Pathward®, National Association, Member FDIC. RoarMoney is a service mark of MoneyLion. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International. Funds are FDIC insured, subject to applicable limitations and restrictions, when we receive the funds deposited to your account.

Investment advisory services provided by ML Wealth LLC. Investment Accounts Are Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • Investments May Lose Value. For important information and disclosures relating to the MoneyLion Investment Account, see Investment FAQs, Form ADV Brochure, and moneylion.com/investing. Accounts are subject to a monthly account fee of $1, $3 (accounts valued over $5,000), or $5 (accounts valued over $25,000).

With direct deposit. Faster and easier access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks versus deposits made electronically and the additional methods available to access funds via a card as opposed to a paper check.

Instacash is a 0% APR cash advance service provided by MoneyLion. Your available Instacash advance limit will be displayed to you in the MoneyLion mobile app and may change from time to time. Your limit will be based on your direct deposits, account transaction history, and other factors as determined by MoneyLion. This service has no mandatory fees. You may leave an optional tip and pay an optional Turbo Fee for expedited funds delivery. For a $40 Instacash advance with a Turbo Fee of $4.99, your repayment amount will be $44.99. Generally, your scheduled repayment date will be your next direct deposit date. An Instacash advance is a non-recourse product; you will not be eligible to request a new advance until your outstanding balance is paid. See Membership Agreement and help.moneylion.com for additional terms, conditions and eligibility requirements.