Jan 6, 2021

San Diego Payday Loans – Applying for a Safe Payday Advance

Written by Cedric Jackson
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Nothing can make your pulse race quite as much as an empty bank account with payday still days or weeks away. While the situation can feel stressful, you do have options for safe lending instead of turning to a payday loan.

With an average APR of 372%, San Diego payday loans can make a bad situation worse. Along with the high APR, you’ll likely have to repay the loan within two weeks, so you won’t have the time to get yourself in a better place financially. Payday loans are predatory, but fortunately, there are safer options. 

Need to borrow up to $250 from your paycheck this week? Check out the most popular option from MoneyLion.

Max Advance Amount: $250

APR: 0%

Credit Affects: None

You can avoid predatory payday loans by choosing Instacash instead. This zero-interest cash advance allows you to access $250 to get you through until payday. Before MoneyLion deposits the money into your RoarMoney or external bank account, you need to choose the deposit speed. Regular delivery is free, and you’ll have the money into your RoarMoney back account in 12–48 hours. It takes up to 3–5 business days for an external bank account. 

What if you’re in a rush and need the funds today? You just need to pay a small fee for Turbo delivery, and the cash will be right away. 

How to Qualify: 

  • Be at least 18 years of age.

  • Have an active bank account. 

  • Have a steady income or regular deposits into a bank account. 

  • Have a positive balance.

  • Have a bank account that’s been open for at least 60 days. 

While we don;t recommend using an in-person lender due to the high finance fees and interest rates, here is a breakdown of what you can expect from a typical payday lender in San Diego, CA. 

Max Payday Loan Amount: $300 

APR: Average of 372% 

Credit Affects: Payday lenders don’t check your credit or report on-time payments. If you are late or miss payments, they can report you to the credit reporting agencies. 

When you apply for a payday loan, you must bring your checking account information with you when you visit the establishment. You’ll also need your ID, proof of income, and recent pay stubs to apply for your payday loan. The lender might need your work phone number to verify your employment, as well. 

Look over the terms of the loan before you sign any documents. It’s not unusual for San Diego payday loans to have APRs just a bit under 400%. It’s also not uncommon to have to pay the loans back in full on the next payday. The short repayment time combined with the high fees makes it hard to get out of the debt cycle. Because these low-dollar loans are so costly, San Diego pay day loans are not recommended. 

How to Qualify: 

  • Bring proof of income. 

  • Bring proof of employment. 

  • Have a valid checking account that accepts direct deposits. 

  • Have a working phone number and valid address. 

If you want to build your credit and borrow money, a Credit Builder Loan is the right choice. 

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

Credit Affects: The average Credit Builder Loan user can boost their credit score by 60 points in 60 days!

Monthly Membership: $19.99/month

Want to borrow up to $1,000, earn interest in a savings account, and build your credit at once? 

You can accomplish all three with a Credit Builder Loan from MoneyLion. You’ll get immediate access to some of the money, and the rest will go into your Credit Reserve account where it will build interest as you pay off the loan. 

Stick to your payment schedule, and you can increase your credit score by as much as 60 points in 60 days. You’ll also get access to the money in your Credit Reserve account plus the interest earned when you make your final payment. 

How to Qualify:

  • Be at least 18 and a legal permanent resident or U.S. citizen. 

  • Have a social security number that you can use when applying.

  • Have an active bank account for repaying the loan. 

What’s Included?

  • Borrow up to $1,000.

  • Repay the loan in 12 monthly payments.

  • Access to a credit monitoring service that updates regularly. 

  • Built-in savings account that you can access after repaying the loan. 

  • Increase your credit score by 60 points in 60 days by making regular payments. 

  • Unlock extra Instacash benefits.

Compare the three cash advance options to see which is the best fit for your financial needs. 

Instacash

Credit Builder Loan

In-Person Payday Lender

How Much Can You Borrow?

$250

$1,000

Up to $300

Fees & Interest

– Free– 0% APR

Competitive APR, $19.99/month fee

Average APR of 372%, but it can be higher

Impacts Your Credit?

No

Yes, it builds your credit score

Late and missed payments can hurt credit

Availability

– Mobile device– Apply any time

– Mobile device– Apply any time

In-person

Wait Time

Instantly*

Instantly

Availability depends on your financial institution

Next Steps

Sign Up

Sign Up

Instead of getting a high-interest loan that is hard to pay back, stick with a safe alternative from MoneyLion.  Choose Instacash or a Credit Builder Loan, and open a RoarMoney account to access additional features. With your RoarMoney bank account, you can get paid two days early and receive weekly spend reports. MoneyLion will help you build a solid financial foundation that will benefit you today and in the future.


Cedric Jackson
Written by
Cedric Jackson
Cedric Jackson is a contributing writer. His writing draws on his rich life experiences, time spent traveling and years working with the written word. He is passionate about internet marketing, finance, travel and the entertainment world. When not busy writing, he spends his time traveling, reading and keeping up with world events.

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.