Will using Self Cash impact my credit score?

No. There's no credit check to qualify for cash advances, and your payments aren't reported to the credit bureaus.

Do I need a new bank account to qualify for Self Cash?

No. As long as you can connect your bank to the Self app via Plaid, you can use your existing account to access cash advances from Self.

Is Self Cash only available in certain states?

Yes. For now, Self Cash is only available in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.

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Self Cash Review: No Monthly Fees But Smaller Max Advance

By Lacey Stark

Edited by Megan B. Shepherd

Updated

Sep 9, 2025

Fact checked

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Self Cash isn't available on Finder right now.

Min. Amount: $25
Max. Amount: $300
Turnaround time: Within 1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee

Our verdict

No monthly fee to qualify, but its advances are smaller than those of many other apps.

Self Cash is a new cash advance feature within Self Financial’s credit-building app. All you have to do to apply is connect your bank account and debit card. Like similar apps, there’s no credit check, interest or late fees, and there’s no monthly subscription needed to qualify. But maximum advance amounts are on the low side at $300 (or only $100 for new users), expedited transfer fees can reach as high as $15 and it's not available in all states yet.

Best for: People looking for small cash advances with no monthly subscription requirement.

Pros

No monthly fee required
No interest, late fees or credit check
Also offers a credit-building tool

Cons

Relatively low maximum advance
Instant transfer fees up to 15
Not available in all states

Is Self Cash legit?

Yes. Self Cash is a legit new feature offered through Self Financial’s larger credit-building app. Founded in 2015, Self is a fintech, not a bank. But its credit builder accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) are made and held by its FDIC-insured partners, Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, NA or First Century Bank, NA.

What makes Self Cash shine?

There is no monthly fee to access Self cash advances, as opposed to some apps that may require as much as $10 a month or more to qualify. Plus, it offers free ACH transfers that typically land in your account within one to three business days. So, if you don’t need the money right away, Self Cash is basically free.

And Self isn’t a one trick pony like a few cash advance apps. It also offers credit-building tools such as secured credit cards, credit builder loans and the option to have rent and bill payments reported to major credit bureaus.

Where Self Cash falls short

Compared to some cash advance apps, Self’s $300 limit is on the low end. Many other apps offer $500 or more.

It also has relatively high instant transfer fees that can reach as high as $15, depending on how much you borrow.

Self Cash details

Product name	Self Cash
Loan amount	$25 to $300
Loan term	Until next payday
Turnaround time	Within 1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Costs	$3 to $15 instant transfer fees No monthly fee
Requirements	Linked bank account and debit card, steady source of income

Self Cash contact info

Phone number	877-883-0999
Customer service hours	Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Weekends: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT via chat
Email	support@self.inc
X, formerly Twitter	@SelfCreditApp
Facebook	Self Financial

How to qualify for Self Cash

Here’s what you need to qualify for Self Cash.

Linked bank account and debit card
A job or a steady source of income
At least 18 and a US resident
Live in a state where Self Cash is offered

Other features

In addition to the new Self Cash, the company is primarily known for its credit-building tools.

Credit builder accounts. Make monthly loan payments on credit builder “loans” from $600 to $3,600 for 24 months. When the term ends or you cancel your account, you’ll get your money back, minus interest and fees.
Secured Visa credit card. Make a deposit to secure your card, which is also your credit limit. As you make payments, those are reported to the three credit bureaus. Interest and fees apply.
Rent and bills reporting. Have your rent payments reported to all three credit bureaus for no charge. For $6.95 a month, you can have up to five other bill payments reported to TransUnion.

How Self Cash compares to other apps

6 of 6 results

Finder Score	Max. amount per pay period	Turnaround time	Costs
9.5 Excellent EarnIn	9.5 Excellent	Up to $150/day, with a max of $1000 between paydays	1–2 business days standard; minutes with Lightning Speed	Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $3.99 per transfer	Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $1000 between paydays. Not available to CT or Washington, D.C. residents. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.	Important information EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit EarnIn.com for full details. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.2 Great Cleo	8.2 Great	$20 to $250	3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.	$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances	Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent Chime® MyPay®	9.4 Excellent	Up to $500	Instant transfers: 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	No subscription fees; Instant transfer fee: 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	Access up to $500 of your pay before payday fee-free within 24 hours. See Chime terms and conditions. MyPay is only offered in select states.	Important information MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451). MyPay eligibility: You must receive qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 36 days as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A qualifying direct deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions apply. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $1000 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. Your MyPay Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance may change at any time. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. Instant funds: Option to get funds instantly for a fee of 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum) per advance, or get funds for free within 24 hours. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. SpotMe: SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, "SpotMe"). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH s, Pay Anyone s, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe terms and conditions. Early Pay: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Savings: Chime® Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. The 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is only available to members with Chime Prime status, otherwise, either the 3.00% APY for members with Chime Plus status or the standard rate of 0.75% APY will apply. The APYs are effective as of 02/26/2026, are variable and may change at any time. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. See Chime Membership Tiers Terms and Conditions for more details. Credit Builder: Based on a representative study conducted by Experian® in Sept 2025, the top 10% of members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder, an earlier version of Chime Card, between April and August 2024, observed a FICO® Score 8 increase of 71 points after approximately 8 months. Average increase of 28 points across all participants in the study. Credit score improvement not guaranteed. Paying on time may increase your score, while late payment may decrease your score. Other credit activity can impact your score. Credit score is one of many factors creditors may consider in evaluating credit applications.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent Varo Cash Advance	9.4 Excellent	Up to $250 today. Build up to $700 over time with direct deposit at Varo. Average loan: $195. Qualifications Apply.	Instant, once qualified	No membership fees, Flat Fees of $1.60 to $100	Important information Varo Advance qualification is subject to evaluation of consumer reports and Varo account activity. If approved, initial limits range from $20- $250. Unlock higher limits up to $700 over time when you bring your qualifying direct deposit to Varo and build a positive history with us. Negative repayment history may impact credit. Fees range from $1.60 - $100 based on loan amount, and deposits to your Varo Bank Account. Your current limit and applicable fees can be viewed in the Varo App. Qualifying direct deposits are electronic deposits of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security or unemployment) from your employer or government agency to the extent that can be identified. Tax refunds and government stimulus payments, Person-to-Person payments (such as Venmo or Varo to Anyone), and funds deposited using a Varo routing number are not considered a direct deposit.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent OppLoans Installment Loans	9.4 Excellent	$500 to $5,000	As soon as the same business day	129% - 195% APR	Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.	Important information The advertised APR is an estimate based on currently available information, is not final, and is subject to change. If approved, your actual rate will be determined and assigned based on your creditworthiness, income, application information, and other relevant factors. Applications submitted on the OppLoans platform will be originated by one of our bank partners and serviced by OppLoans. Please see the Rates and Terms for details regarding the availability of products in your state of residence. Subject to credit approval and verification. Actual approved loan amount and terms are dependent on our bank partners’ standard underwriting guidelines and credit policies. Funds may be deposited for delivery to your bank via ACH as soon as the same business day if verification is completed and final approval occurs before 12:00 PM CT on a business day. If approval occurs after 12:00 PM CT on a business day or on a non-business day, funds may be delivered as soon as the next business day. Availability of the funds is dependent on how quickly your bank processes the transaction. Installment loan amounts typically range from $500 to $5,000. Annual percentage rate (APR) ranges from 129% to 195%. Installment loan lengths range from 9 to 18 months. Example: A $2,000 installment loan repayable in 9 monthly payments with an APR of 160% would have monthly payments of $394.58. Loan amount, APR, and repayment terms may vary by state, please see https://www.opploans.com/rates-and-terms for additional information. Approval is not guaranteed. If approved, your actual rate will fall within the marketed range of rates, and will be determined and assigned based on your creditworthiness, income, application information, and other relevant factors. Not all applicants will qualify for the lowest available rates. This is an expensive form of credit and you should determine whether the offered product(s) meets your financial needs. OppLoans’ Bank Partners may use credit report information provided by Clarity Services and Experian as part of the application process to determine your creditworthiness. The credit inquiry will appear as a soft credit inquiry on your Experian credit report and a hard credit inquiry on your Clarity report. Therefore it will not affect your FICO credit score. OppLoans and its Bank Partners report customer payment history to the three major credit bureaus. On-time payments may improve credit score.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.8 Great Albert Instant	8.8 Great	$25 to $1,000	Within minutes	No subscription required	Advance up to $1,000 in minutes with Albert Instant.	Important information Albert is not a bank. Savings account provided by Wells Fargo, N.A., Member FDIC. Albert plans start at $19.99/mo. Try for 30 days before you're charged. Fees auto-renew until canceled. Cancel in the app. Terms apply. Albert Instant Line of Credit is an unsecured line of credit issued by FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered bank, Member FDIC. Limits range from $25-$1,000. Draw fees apply. Terms and eligibility criteria including geographic restrictions apply. In some states, Albert may offer you an Albert Instant Advance instead. Limits range from $25-$1,000, subject to terms and eligibility criteria. No Albert subscription is required for Albert Instant Line of Credit or Albert Instant Advance. See Albert Terms of Use for additional important terms.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 6 of 6 results

What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.

Read the full breakdown

Self Financial reviews and complaints

Because the cash advance feature is so new, reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot are only about Self credit building, with one exception.

BBB accredited	No
BBB rating	F
BBB customer reviews	3.73 out of 5 stars, based on 830 customer reviews
BBB customer complaints	1,404 customer complaints
Trustpilot Score	4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 1,332 customer reviews
App Store Score	4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 284,300 customer reviews
Google Play Score	4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 88,300 customer reviews
Customer reviews verified as of	27 August 2025

Self has mixed reviews on BBB, Trustpilot and the app stores. Many customers appreciate the credit-building tools and say they’ve seen their scores go up as a result. But others say there are too many fees, customer service can be difficult to reach and the credit-building process has taken longer than expected. And a few people say they’ve had trouble getting back the money they paid in after closing their account.

The company also has two alerts on BBB. One involves Self using misleading advertising through testimonials that don’t reflect typical results. The other is an alert to a pattern of complaints about contracts and credit reporting issues. In addition, quite a few people say that Self accounts have been fraudulently opened in their name.

One customer wrote on Trustpilot that they kept getting error messages when trying to apply for Self Cash, and customer service was unable to help them.

What do people on Reddit say?

Similar to the review sites, there aren’t any Reddit threads about Self Cash yet — probably because it’s so new. There is a lot of chatter about Self credit building, however, with a mixed bag of comments. Some people love it, others not so much.

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