Dec 3, 2020

Payday Loans in Tucson – Finding a Safe Payday Loan Alternative

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Do you need to borrow a small amount of cash for a short period of time? Many people that need short-term loans turn to payday loans. Unfortunately, payday loans are predatory lending options that can leave you in even greater financial trouble. Payday loans are also illegal throughout Tucson and Arizona.



There are other ways to access short-term lending solutions and loans without a credit check. Some lending options are safer and more affordable than others. We’ll touch on everything you’ll need to know about accessing extra cash and payday loans in Tucson. Scroll down to get started!

Even though payday loans are banned in Arizona, there are still plenty of lenders that will try to take advantage of your situation to charge you high APRs and extra fees. You don’t need to settle for these types of loans. There are safer and cheaper alternatives you can access just as easily. Here’s our take on the best cash advances in Tucson, AZ. 

Max Advance Amount: $250

APR: 0%

Credit Affects: None

MoneyLion offers interest-free cash advances through Instacash. Instacash is a safe and affordable cash advance that can get you money fast and won’t harm your credit. In fact, you don’t need a credit check in order to qualify. 

Instacash works as an advance on your next paycheck. When your money comes in, you’ll pay back what you’ve borrowed and only what you’ve borrowed. In this way, Instacash is a much more affordable solution for cash advances than typical alternatives. 

Your Instacash funds deposit into your RoarMoney account or external bank account within a couple of days. But if you need your money sooner, you can pay a small fee for instant deposits.

How to Qualify: 

  • 18 years or older

  • History of steady income or deposits 

  • A checking account that’s been open for 60 days or more

  • A positive balance in your checking account



Max Loan Amount: Depends on the lender

APR: Max 36% APR and fees are limited to 5% of the amount borrowed

Credit Affects: Most lenders will pull your credit which can negatively impact your score. 

Payday loans are illegal across Arizona. But there are other lending options like installment loans, tribal loans, and secured loans can cause considerable financial harm.

Secured loans are especially risky. Also known as registration or title loans, these loans require you to put up a valuable asset as collateral – usually a car or a home. You could face high-interest rates, and if you are unable to meet your lender’s requirements, you risk losing your property altogether. 

If you do decide to work with one of these lenders, make sure to read the fine print and understand exactly what you are signing up for. You’ll want to know how much money you’ll owe and any additional fees you could be charged for. You can read more about predatory loans and payday loans in Tucson, Arizona here

How to Qualify: 

  • 18 years or older

  • American citizen or permanent resident

  • History of income or consistent deposits 

  • You’ll have to provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and a valid ID

  • Active checking account

There’s more than one way to access safe cash quickly. Have you looked into instant loan options in Tucson? Take a look at a Credit Builder Loan from MoneyLion. 



Loan Amount: You could qualify for up to $1,000

Credit Affects: Most Credit Builder Loan members boost their credit score by 60 points in just 60 days! 

MoneyLion’s Credit Builder Loan is a low APR loan that’s a safer alternative to predatory lenders. Credit Builder Loan is designed to get you cash and help you boost your credit at the same time. You can access a loan without credit checks and even if you have no credit history! With a competitively low APR, it’s also easy to make your payments on-time. 

How to Qualify:

  • 18 years or older

  • American citizen or permanent resident

  • Provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and a valid ID

  • Active bank account or prepaid card to make payments

Looking to compare your options for cash advances in Tucson? Here are the different rates and terms you can expect.  

Instacash

Credit Builder Loan

In-Person Lender

How Much Can You Borrow?

$250

$1,000

Depends on the lender

Fees & Interest

Free0% APR

Competitive APR, $19.99/month fee

Can be as high as 36% and fees can reach 5% of the amount borrowed

Impacts Your Credit?

No

Yes, it builds your credit score.

Late payments will affect credit.

Availability

Online & Mobile

Online & Mobile

Sometimes online & in-person

Wait Time

Instantly*

Instantly

Usually within the next business day

Next Steps

Sign Up

Sign Up

Even though payday loans are banned in Arizona, there are still numerous predatory lenders looking to take advantage of your financial situation. Loans with high APRs and fees can hurt your credit score and leave you worse off financially. 

MoneyLion is a safe alternative that can help you avoid these types of lenders altogether. 

MoneyLion is a one-stop-shop for comprehensive banking and financial needs. You can explore investment accounts and sign up for RoarMoney, the online bank account that lets you get paid up to 2 days early! Earn cashback on debit card purchases, personalized weekly spending reports, and other tools to help you monitor your finances. 

MoneyLion is America’s most financial membership because it helps people get control of their finances. Learn more here!


Jacinta Majauskas
Written by
Jacinta Majauskas
Jacinta Majauskas is a Content Marketing Manager and Copywriter. With a B.A. in Economics from New York University, she has been writing about personal finance since 2019. Her work has been featured on financial news sites like Yahoo! Finance and Benzinga. She's currently pursuing a part-time J.D. at Rutgers Law. In her free time, she can be found immersing herself in all the best New York City has to offer or planning her next travel adventure.

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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.

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 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 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.

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.