In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Focus Cash Loans review

  • Carmen Chai's headshot
Focus Cash Loans
APR
Varies by province
Loan Amount
$100 - $1,500
Loan Term
Up to 62 days
Turnaround Time
Approval within 30 mins. during business hours, e-Transfer within 30 mins. after approval
Serviced Provinces
AB, BC and ON
All information about Focus Cash Loans has been collected independently by Finder. Finder is not connected with Focus Financial products, and this page is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Focus Financial. All product names, logos, and brands have been used for identification purposes only and are property of their respective owners.

Our verdict

Get instant approval with no credit check, but watch out for high rates.

Focus Financial is an online-only payday lender, so you can count on a completely digitized application process, from filling out an application to proving your identity and banking history. People with all types of credit scores can apply because Focus Financial prioritizes an applicant's income and banking history over their credit score.

Focus Financial accepts several types of non-employment income, including Canada pension plan (CPP), private pension, employment insurance (EI), workers' compensation, child tax credit or private disability benefits. It does not accept government disability income.

Payday loans like Focus Cash Loans have high borrowing costs and incredibly short repayment terms. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure you'll have enough income left to pay for other debts, bills and expenses after you repay your payday loan on the due date.

Pros

  • Fast approvals and funding
  • No credit check
  • Accepts various types of income
  • Bad credit is okay

Cons

  • Extremely expensive

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews

What is Focus Cash Loans?

Focus Cash Loans is a payday lender that has been in business since 2008. It is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Is Focus Cash Loans legitimate?

It is. Focus Cash Loans is owned by Focus Financial Inc. Founded in 2008, Focus is a publicly registered organization in AB, BC and ON. It has customer service Monday to Saturday, and an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Most importantly, it prominently displays its payday licences in each of the provinces it operates in, including applicable fees, APRs and repayment terms. For full transparency, it also shows you the full cost of your payday loan as the first prompt during the application process.

  • Alberta licence: 327008
  • BC licence: 50034
  • Ontario licence: 4716299

Licence numbers as of October 2023

What are the benefits of Focus Cash Loans?

  • Easy online application. Focus is an online-only lender, so borrowers can apply wherever they have an Internet connection, sign their contract electronically and receive their funds via Interac e-Transfer. You don’t have to email or fax any documents unless you don’t get paid via direct deposit or your personal information doesn’t match your bank account profile.
  • Fast. After submitting your application, you can get a decision within 30 minutes during business hours and get your funds within 30 minutes after approval.
  • Bad credit is okay. Anyone can apply for a Focus Financial payday loan. There are no credit checks because the emphasis is on your monthly income and ability to repay the loan. You must not have gone bankrupt in the past year, though.
  • No collateral. Payday loans are unsecured and do not require any collateral.
  • Use the funds for any purpose. Once you’re approved for a loan, you have the freedom to use the money as you’d like.

What to watch out for

  • Steep interest rates. Whether you live in AB, BC and ON, you’ll pay up to $15 for every $100 borrowed. Payday loans are some of the most expensive ways to borrow cash with APRs that are as high as 400%, driving up the true cost of your short-term financing.
  • Short repayment terms. Payday loans are a quick-fix solution. You must repay your loan by your next payday, with terms capping out at 62 days. Make sure you can comfortably cover your payments with your next paycheque before you apply.
  • Caps on how much you can borrow. You can only borrow up to $500 for your first Focus payday loan. After that, payday loans cap out at $1,500.
  • Not available across Canada. Focus is only licensed as a payday lender in AB, BC and ON.
  • References. You’ll need to provide Focus Financial with 2 references, including their name and phone number.

Am I eligible?

To qualify for a Focus Financial payday loan, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

  • Be 19 years of age or older.
  • Have proof of a net income of $1,200 per month via bank statements that show steady direct deposits from the past 3 months.
  • Have an active chequing account that can receive e-Transfers.
  • Have an active telephone number that Focus can contact you at.

Which provinces are Focus Financial payday loans available in?

Focus Financial payday loans are available in AB, BC and ON.

⚠️ Warning: Be cautious with payday loans
High-cost payday loans are unsustainable for borrowing over a continued period of time and are expensive as a means of longer-term borrowing. If you're experiencing financial hardship call Credit Counselling Canada for free financial counselling (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm at +1 866-398-5999). You may also want to consider payday loan alternatives. Maximum borrowing costs will vary by province. Review the maximum borrowing cost for your province before entering into a loan agreement.

Alternatives to Focus Cash Loans

1 - 7 of 7
Name Product CAFSL Loan Amount Loan Term APR Turnaround Time Serviced Provinces Offer Table description
GoDay Payday Loan
$100 - $1,500
Up to 62 days
Varies by province
As little as 2 minutes with Interac e-Transfer
AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PEI, SK
To apply, you'll need to be a Canadian resident over the age of 18 with a valid email address, phone number and an open bank account with a Canadian bank or credit union.
Cashco Financial Payday Loans
$100 - $1,500
Up to 62 days
Varies by province
Same day approval
AB, BC, ON
Get quick access to funds based on your income. Active bank account required. All income types accepted.
Venue Financial Payday Loans
Venue Financial Payday Loans
$200 - $1,500
Up to 62 days
Varies
As little as 2 hours with INTERAC e-Transfer
BC
Apply online in minutes and borrow up to $1,500. Available to BC residents over 18 with a valid email, phone number, and an active bank account. Receive funds quickly with flexible repayment options.
Go to site
iCash Payday Loan
$100 - $1,500
7 - 62 days
Varies by province
As little as 2 minutes with Interac e-Transfer
AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PEI
24/7 instant approval and e-Transfer funding.
Same day cash up to $1,500 for car payments, rent, mortgage, home & appliance repair, and more. Income of at least $800/month required.
Wagepay Wage Advance Loan
$100 - $1,500
Up to 62 days
Varies by province
As little as 2 minutes with Interac e-Transfer
BC, ON
Lower and transparent fees. No late or NSF fees.
Get early access to a portion of your pay. Sign up in less than 3 minutes and receive funds via e-Transfer 24/7.
Money Mart Payday Loan
$120 - $1,500
1 - 62 days
Varies by province
As little as 1 hour after getting approved
AB, BC, MB, NS, NT, ON, SK, YT
To be eligible, you’ll need to be at least 18 years of age with a steady source of income and a chequing account. No credit check required.
More Info
Cash Money Payday Loan
$100 - $1,500
5 - 40 days
Varies by province
As little as 15 minutes with INTERAC e-Transfer
BC, MB, NL, NS, ON, SK
Instant decision and e-Transfer funding. Income of at least $1,000/month required.
More Info
loading

How do I apply for a Focus Cash Loan?

If you’d like to apply for a Focus payday loan, simply follow these instructions:

  1. Head to focuscashloans.com and click on “Apply Now” on the homepage.
  2. Follow the prompts on the application page. Start by selecting which province you live in. Focus will show you its payday licence and the payday loan regulations in your province. Click “Continue” to proceed.
  3. Provide your full name, email address, home address, phone number, date of birth and how much you’d like to borrow (up to $1,500).
  4. Indicate your income type (for example, employment, CPP, EI, WCB or private disability insurance).
  5. Indicate whether you’re renting or own your home and how long you’ve lived at this residence.
  6. Provide the name of your employer, employment type, job title, how long you’ve worked there, how often you get paid, and whether you get paid via direct deposit or paper cheques. You’ll need to indicate your specific pay dates – this is how Focus will determine your loan repayment due dates.
  7. Electronically sign and date your application.
  8. Fill out your banking details, including the name of your bank, branch number and account number.
  9. Review your application and click “Submit” when you’re ready. Focus says that if you apply during business hours, you should hear back within 30 minutes.

What documents do I need to apply?

You don’t need to provide any documents unless you don’t receive your income through direct deposit or the name, address or employer you provided on your application does not match your banking profile.

What is the application like?

The application is user-friendly and easy to fill out online. You’ll need to answer around 25 questions about your personal and financial situation. Once you submit your application, you can get a decision in as little as 30 minutes. Once you receive approval, you’ll get your funds within 30 minutes via e-transfer.

Below is a preview of the first few steps of the application process.

I got the Focus Cash Loan. Now what?

Your loan must be repaid on the due dates as set out in your loan contract. If you live in Alberta, your payday loan must be repaid in installments and have a minimum loan term of 42 days. B.C. and Ontario do not have these rules, so you may have to repay the loan in full by your next payday.

Make sure you have a concrete plan for how you’ll repay what you’ve borrowed plus the fees you’ve incurred. Focus Financial will withdraw the amount owed directly from your bank account, so make sure the funds are there on your due date.

Frequently asked questions

Your reviews

No reviews yet. Write a review
Go to site