Do you have a job but find yourself needing your money sooner than your scheduled payday? You’re not alone! Millions of Americans have a difficult time stretching their check over the course of a week or two and need a little cash advance to cover their bills.
We’ll explore what payday loans are and how to find safe, interest-free alternatives that won’t impact your financial future.
Options For Payday Loans in Alabama
Your options for payday loans in Alabama are pretty vast. While short-term lending is legal in Alabama, it doesn’t stop lenders from charging the maximum interest rates, fees, and finances costs associated with the state. You could spend hours researching where to get the best deals and how to avoid fees but the fact is you can’t avoid them. Payday loans are known to be the most predatory lending method available.
Take a look at what you can expect from a payday loan.
Requirements:
- You must be 18 to apply for a payday loan
- Identification
- Active bank account
- Steady income with paystubs
Credit Impact: Payday loans typically will not run a credit check but will look at your finances to decide what they can lend you. While low or bad credit typically does not matter when applying, a lender can put your account into collections should you fail to make payments on time. This action will be reported to credit agencies and will negatively affect your score.
Max Loan Amount: The state of Alabama allows up to $500 in cash advances or payday loans. If you choose to apply for the loan, your loan is subject to the maximum APR (interest rate) or 456.25% per term and up to 17.5% in finance charges (the amount needed to close the loan).
Terms:
- You can legally have 1 payday loan at any given time.
- You can apply for a payday loan every 10 days, as long as you have no outstanding payday loans.
Penalties: You can and will be charged fees for unpaid or falling behind on a loan. Some of the penalties are being sent to collections where you will begin to receive mail, incessant phone calls, and even have collections agents show up at your residence. While these tactics can be reported if they break your state’s laws, they are for the most part legal.
Payday Loan Alternatives in Alabama
Don’t settle for high-risk and high-interest loans, consider the safe alternatives.
Ask Your Employer
As an employee benefit, some businesses will offer a service to get your paycheck early. Typically this service has a fee tacked on each time you use the service.
If you work for a small to medium-sized business, you may be able to go to the owner or manager directly to ask for an advance. This may be something you can try a few times at most and in absolute emergencies. While we can’t provide data on the probability of getting your request granted, it’s worth a shot!
Instacash
There are never any additional required fees or interest for borrowing. You can borrow for a day or a couple of weeks, MoneyLion will predict your next payday for you, and you so never have to worry about due dates or calculating what you owe.
Credit Builder Loans
If you need a loan larger than $250, you can apply for a Credit Builder Loan. These loans are there to help those with low or no credit and are available in your MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus account. Depending on your qualifications, you can receive up to $1,000 into your account instantly.
Find A Online Loan In Alabama
Instacash | Credit Builder Loan | Local Payday Lender | |
How Much Can You Borrow? | $250 | $1,000 | $500 |
Fees & Interest | 0% APR | Competitive APR, $19.99/month fee | – Up to 456% interest- 17.5% of finance charges – Bank fees with a maximum of $30 |
Impacts Your Credit? | No | Yes, builds your credit score. | Sometimes, if you’re late it will negatively affect your score. |
Availability | Online & Mobile | Online & Mobile | You can fill out an application online, but you may have to go into a physical location to get your money. |
Wait Time | Instantly | Instantly | 24 Hours |
Next Steps | Sign Up | Sign Up |
ATMs Available
If you need cash in hand, there are over 55,000 ATMs in the MoneyLion network nationwide.
City | ATMs Available In Area (Within 50 Miles) |
Birmingham | 211 |
Montgomery | 73 |
Mobile | 187 |
Huntsville | 89 |
Tuscaloosa | 130 |
Search For ATMs available in your city here or open your MoneyLion App.
Don’t Get Stuck In the Payday Loan Rut
Payday loans aren’t the only option. By choosing a bank that is also a lender, you can cut these high-cost loans out of your life. Here at MoneyLion, we understand that things come up before payday, and we don’t think you should be penalized for it! With your monthly membership, you’ll gain access to available lending when you need it. It’s time to roar and take control of your finances today.
Should I get a payday loan if I need money today?
No, payday loans are high-interest and high-fee loans that can end up costing you hundreds more than you borrowed originally.
Look for alternatives like MoneyLion to provide you with safe, low or 0 interest loans. You can typically get the money you need in your account instantly after signing up for a monthly membership.
Here at MoneyLion, we want our members to learn about their finances and to build wealth over time. And if you need a little extra cash to get you to payday, take what you need with 0 interest and no penalties.
How quickly can I get paid with a payday loan?
Traditional payday loans take 24 hours or more to receive your funds.
Instacash takes seconds! After becoming a member you can take out up to $50 the same day. Once you’ve set up a direct deposit, watch your Instacash amount grow. Up to $250 with 0 interest and 0 fees.
How old do you have to be to apply for a loan?
You must be 18 years old to apply for a loan of any kind in the United States.