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Green Dot Money loans review

Apply for a loan of $100 to $10,000 through a network of legit online lenders.

If you need money quickly but don’t want to spend time browsing lenders, consider applying through Green Dot Money. This lending marketplace could include an option that fits your needs — even if you have poor credit.

Read on to learn how Green Dot Money can connect you to a short-term loan with fast funding.

Green Dot Money no longer operating

As of May 2018, it appears that Green Dot Money is no longer operating. Green Dot continues to offer prepaid debit cards and a range of banking services. If you’re interested in a short-term loan, compare this selection of available providers.

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$100

Min. Amount

$10,000

Max. Amount

Details

Product NameGreen Dot Money Loans
Min. Amount$100
Max. Amount$10,000
Loan TermVaries
Loan SecurityUnsecured
RequirementsYou must live in one of its serviced states; be at your state’s age of majority; be a citizen or permanent resident of the US; have a steady source of income and a bank account or reusable debit card.

Green Dot Money no longer operating

As of May 2018, it appears that Green Dot Money is no longer operating. Green Dot continues to offer prepaid debit cards and a range of banking services. If you’re interested in a short-term loan, compare this selection of available providers.

How does Green Dot Money work?

Green Dot Money doesn’t provide loans directly. Instead, it’s a loan-connection service that can connect you to lenders willing to offer amounts and terms you specify in its simple online application. After you apply, you choose a loan from among those you’re eligible for and accept a contract on the specific lender’s website.
How short-term loan brokers work

What loans could I get through Green Dot Money?

  • Payday loans. Payday loans — also called short-term or cash advance loans — are a quick way to get small amounts of money when you need it most. The amount you borrow including accrued interest is typically due in two to four weeks. Because these loans are designed for people with less-than-perfect credit, prepare for high interest rates and multiple fees.
  • Installment loans. Similar to payday loans, installment loans come with high interest rates and multiple fees. But you can replay them over months, rather than weeks — which makes them a better choice for larger amounts. Longer repayment terms result in smaller payments, but interest can add up quickly.

How does Green Dot Money compare to other short-term loan brokers?

Select your state of residence to view providers in your area. Sort by loan amount, turnaround time or requirements, or select the Go to site button for more information from a particular provider.

1 - 0 of 0
Name Product Filter Values Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
$100 to $35,000
As soon as the next business day
Regular source of income, Verifiable bank account, US citizen, Ages 18+
Get connected with multiple lenders you might qualify with — even if you have bad credit.
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Rating: 2.5 / 5: ★★★★★
LendYou Short-term Loans
$100 to $1,000
Same business day to 1 business day
$1,000+ monthly income, direct deposit, US citizen or permanent resident, ages 18+
Get offers from potential lenders in minutes by filling out just one online form.
CashUSA Installment Loans
Not rated yet
CashUSA Installment Loans
$500 to $10,000
As fast as same business day
Regular source of income, Bank account, US citizen or permanent resident, Age of majority in your state
Explore its online education center to get tips on budgeting, how to prioritize your bills and more.
CashAdvance.com Payday Loans
Not rated yet
CashAdvance.com Payday Loans
$100 to $999
Varies by lender
Employed, at least $1,000 in monthly take-home pay, valid checking account, US citizen, over 18, valid home and work phone number, valid email address, resident of eligible state.
Use its repayment calculator to see how the loan term and amount you borrow affects the overall cost.
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What are the benefits and drawbacks of Green Dot Money?

Pros

  • No obligation. If you don’t like the terms you’re given, you’re under no obligation to accept a contract.
  • Borrow how much you want. Whether you need $100 to get by until your next paycheck or $1,000 for emergency expenses, you might find a loan to get over your financial hurdle.
  • Prepaid debit cards available. Some lenders may let you choose to load your funds onto a prepaid debit card for added convenience.

Cons

  • High rates. Short-term loans come with high APRs — from $15 to $30 for every $100 you borrow.
  • No guarantee. Green Dot Money has a large network, but it might not always be able to find you a lender.

You have other options when short-term loans aren’t the right choice

How much does it cost to use Green Dot Money?

As with most loan-connection services, it’s free to search for a loan through Green Dot Money. In fact, you won’t pay anything until you sign a loan contract. At that time, you’re responsible for any costs determined by your lender.

Is Green Dot Money safe to use?

Yes. Green Dot Money is legit. It complies with federal regulations when it comes to keeping your information safe. Your files are private and secure on its servers, and your personal details are shared only if it’s necessary to find you a lender.
Make sure your lender’s legit before you sign any contract

Green Dot Money reviews and complaints

BBB accreditedYes
BBB ratingNR
BBB customer reviews1.04 out of 5 stars, based on 574 customer reviews
BBB customer complaints4,662
Trustpilot score1.3 out of 5, based on 120 customer reviews
AppStore score3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 6,596 customer reviews
Google Play score4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 50,178 customer reviews
Customer reviews verified as of16 October 2020
Green Dot gets overwhelmingly negative customer reviews. Many customers report struggling to fix problems with their Green Dot card, having their information stolen and being charged fees they didn’t expect. Minnesota has also filed a complaint against Green Dot after a customer wasn’t able to receive their tax refund on a Green Dot card due to a fraud-prevention block the company uses.

Can I trust Green Dot Money?

It’s good practice to consider reviews when choosing a loan-connection service and a lender. If you don’t think Green Dot Money is the right option for you, you can always compare your other options.

How do I apply?

The Green Dot Money application is quick and simple. You’ll need to provide some basic information at this step and prepare to give up more once you’re connected with a lender. Here’s what you’ll need:
Eligibility criteria:
To get a Green Dot Money loan you must:

  • Live in one of its serviced states. Green Dot Money currently services all states and Washington, DC except Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, New York, Vermont and West Virginia.
  • Be at least 18 years old or your state’s age of majority.
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the US.
  • Have a steady source of income.
  • Have a bank account or reusable debit card.

Required information:

  • Personal details, including your name, date of birth, Social Security number and government-issued ID
  • Contact details, including your email, phone number and home address
  • Financial details, including your bank account numbers and your monthly income

Bottom line

If you’re in need of cash and looking for quick funding, let Green Dot Money do the work of finding a lender for you. You may find a loan that meets your needs and helps you pay for whatever financial emergencies come your way. Consider other short-term loan brokers if you’d to compare your options.

Are payday loans available in my state?

Frequently asked questions

When I apply for a loan through Green Dot Money, how does it affect my credit score?
Applying through a connection service doesn’t affect your credit, and Green Dot Money doesn’t report your inquiry to any credit agency. Keep in mind that a lender may choose to do so once you sign a contract.
What happens if I repay my loan early?
It depends on the individual lender. When reviewing your loan contract, ask about prepayment. Some payday loan lenders charge extra fees for early repayment.
How long will it take for me to receive my approved funds?
Funds are usually deposited into your bank account by the next business day, but it ultimately depends on your lender and your bank.
How will a late payment on a loan affect my credit?
It depends. Not all lenders report to the big three credit agencies that handle credit, but some might choose to report late or missing payments.
Reporting is at the discretion of the lender, and Green Dot Money has no control over your loan search once you find a suitable lender. Contact Green Dot Money as soon as you know your payment will be late to discuss the situation.

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18 Comments

    Default Gravatar
    BJ.
    September 23, 2019

    My husband is getting a loan through Green Dot. I’m a little worried because they say everything looks good. But I’m the morning he is supposed to wait on a call then they do a backdoor credit check an they said he would have the money by tomorrow night or the next morning. This just sounds fishy to me.

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangco
      September 23, 2019

      Hi BJ,

      Thanks for getting in touch!

      I understand your position. Most legitimate lenders will check your credit to determine if you’re able to repay them. If a lender isn’t interested in seeing your credit score, it’s one of the warning signs of a personal loan scam so you should be wary of them instead.

      There are also lenders that have a pre-approval process- for applicants to see whether they can qualify and to show them what interest rates, fees, and loan terms they could get without doing a hard inquiry on their credit report. Then when it’s time to finalize the application, that’s when the lender will do a hard credit check which will appear on the lender’s credit report.

      This might be the case with Green Dot so it’s worth speaking to them about their loan application process to clear things out.

      Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    Angela
    July 26, 2019

    Could you guys help find a lender

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangco
      July 26, 2019

      Hi Angela,

      Thanks for leaving a question on our page.

      We are more than happy to help! You can use our short-term loans comparison to help you assess lenders in terms of the maximum loan amount they offer, turnaround time and requirements to find one that’s suitable for your financing needs.

      Carefully review their eligibility criteria before applying to increase your chances of approval. Read up on the terms and conditions to see whether it is right for you.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    Cece
    March 4, 2019

    Where exactly do you go to apply? I’ve searched green dot money and the website doesn’t show the option to apply for a loan.

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangco
      March 4, 2019

      Hi Cece,

      Thanks for reaching out to finder – According to our page, it states, “Green Dot Money doesn’t provide loans directly. Instead, it’s a loan-connection service that can connect you to lenders willing to offer amounts and terms you specify in its simple online application. After you apply, you choose a loan from among those you’re eligible for and accept a contract on the specific lender’s website.”

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    Joe
    January 2, 2019

    Does cash store consider green dot Visa card a valid bank account I’ve had it for a year or two now already and it says it’s a checking account

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangco
      January 2, 2019

      Hi Joe,

      Thanks for getting in touch! Cash store considers an active checking account as one of their eligibility requirements. To find out your eligibility for Cash Store, we suggest contacting Cash Store directly. A friendly reminder to please review the terms and conditions and product disclosure statement of their policy before lodging an application.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    Brandon
    September 29, 2018

    Do you know if CashnetUSA will load my funds onto a Go Bank card even though they said they don’t accept prepaid cards?

      AvatarFinder
      Charisse
      September 29, 2018

      Hi Brandon,

      Thanks for reaching out to finder.

      Go Bank is not a prepaid card. It is a checking account which comes with a debit card and you can easily access your account online and on mobile. You can write checks with it; deposit cash and checks to your account; transfer money and pay bills online. CashnetUSA requires borrowers to have an active checking account so Go Bank account should be accepted.

      You can also contact CashnetUSA for further assistance on this. Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Charisse

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