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Its partners offer loans up to $50k, but you're in the dark about rates until after you sign up.
This service might be particularly useful if you’re having trouble qualifying for a traditional personal loan or need money fast. It works with all credit types, and you could get funds as soon as the next day. But there’s little customer support — and not much information about what rates and terms its partners offer.
Anna Serio is a trusted lending expert and certified Commercial Loan Officer who's published more than 950 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. A former editor of a newspaper in Beirut, Anna writes about personal, student, business and car loans. Today, digital publications like Business Insider, CNBC and the Simple Dollar feature her professional commentary, and she earned an Expert Contributor in Finance badge from review site Best Company in 2020.
What is DirectLoansGroup?
DirectLoansGroup is a short-term loan connection service that helps borrowers find a lender they can qualify with. Though it’s not a direct lender itself, its partners offer loans from $100 to $50,000 to all credit types. It can be helpful if you’ve had trouble finding a loan because of your credit score, a past bankruptcy or your nontraditional form of income, like government benefits.
However, it’s not up front about what rates and terms its partners offer. This could be a red flag, especially since short-term loans are notorious for high rates and fees that often lead to APRs in the triple digits.
What states does DirectLoansGroup serve?
You can’t get a loan from DirectLoansGroup if you live in one of the following states:
Arkansas
Connecticut
Georgia
Minnesota
New York
Pennsylvania
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
What are the benefits of using DirectLoansGroup?
From its lenient eligibility requirements to its wide range of loan amounts, here are a few perks of using DirectLoansGroup:
Benefits count as income. You don’t need to have a job as long as you make at least $800 a month in documented income.
Large range of loan amounts. With loans from $100 to $50,000, this service can help you find funding for a wide range of needs.
Bankruptcies OK. Unlike many short-term loan providers, DirectLoansGroup’s partner lenders will work with customers who’ve filed for bankruptcy.
What to watch out for
Consider these potential drawbacks before finding a lender through DirectLoansGroup:
Little information online. You can’t find potential APRs or loan terms without entering some personal information.
Checking account required. Most short-term lenders require a bank account, and DirectLoansGroup’s partners are no exception. Check out our guide to no-bank-account loans if you’re unbanked.
Automated customer service line. You can’t get answers to any questions by calling customer service — it’s fully automated.
Few customer reviews. This can make it difficult to know what to expect from its partner lenders.
Limited availability. This service is not available in nine states.
Beware of companies with little online information
While not necessarily a bad sign, using a service that doesn’t have much information about its partners and few customer reviews can be risky. This is especially the case with a connection service that shares your personal information with its partners — DirectLoansGroup might share your Social Security number and bank account information. Once you’re connected with a lender, you’re subject to its privacy policy, terms and conditions, which might differ.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Is it safe to use DirectLoansGroup to find a loan?
Generally, yes. It uses SSL encryption to protect the information you submit through its website. It’s also a member of the Online Lenders Alliance (OLA), an industry group with best practices and a code of conduct made to protect consumers — though it’s self regulated.
However, using a connection service can be riskier than applying through a lender directly, especially since DirectLoansGroup doesn’t list its partners online. You won’t know which companies you could be connected with until after you provide your personal information.
What do borrowers say about DirectLoansGroup?
There isn’t much about DirectLoansGroup online as of August 2019. It doesn’t have a Better Business Bureau page. And it only has nine reviews on Trustpilot. However, the reviews that are out there are mostly positive. All of its Trustpilot reviewers rated it as “excellent,” though it only scores an 8.7 out of 10.
Customers were mostly happy with how easy it was to find a lender — and how quickly they received their funds. A few customers mentioned that they got a “fair” rate from their lender.
Am I eligible for a loan through DirectLoansGroup’s partners?
You must meet the following requirements to qualify with one of DirectLoansGroup’s partners:
At least $800 regular monthly income
Checking account
At least 18 years old
US citizen or permanent resident
How do I get started?
You can get started by calling 866-956-2474 or following these steps online:
Go to the DirectLoansGroup website.
Click the range of loan amounts you’re interested in borrowing.
Enter your first and last name. Click Continue.
Fill in the required fields with information about yourself and your finances. Click Continue.
Read the disclosure and check the box certifying the information you’ve provided is correct. If you want to opt out of being reached by phone or text, click Opt-out here. Otherwise, check the box and click Submit.
What information do I need to get started?
Make sure you have the following information on hand when completing DirectLoansGroup’s online form:
Social Security number
Birth date
Contact information
Housing and income details
Driver’s license number
Bank account details
Credit score range
You might also need to provide the following types of documents if you get connected with a lender:
Proof of income. Typically lenders ask to see recent pay stubs or benefits checks to verify your income.
State-issued ID. Lenders might also ask to see a copy of your ID.
Bank statements. Some lenders might ask for this to see how much money you have available or as an alternate proof of income.
I got connected with a lender. Now what?
Follow the lender’s directions to complete the application and provide any required documents. Before you apply, you might want to do some research on the lender so you know what to expect — like looking up customer reviews. You can receive the funds in your bank account in as little as 24 hours, depending on how quickly you’re able to submit your documents.
If you have any questions about the application process, reach out to the lender’s customer service team.
Bottom line
DirectLoansGroup can make it easier for you to find a loan that’s right for you — especially if you’ve had difficulty qualifying in the past. It also offers a wider range of loan amounts than most short-term loan services. But with little transparency about its partner lenders, rates and terms, it might be a risk.
Yes, DirectLoansGroup’s partner lenders offer financing for all credit types, even if your credit rating isn’t perfect.
No. That’s because it takes at lest one business day for the money to transfer from the lender to your bank account. If you need money today, consider borrowing from a short-term lender that has a physical location.
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