CashUSA: Fast But Flawed Loan Connection Up to $10K

Is CashUSA legit?

CashUSA is a legitimate website that might connect you to a lender. But it will definitely connect you with a whole bunch of non-loan-related products you may not need. If you’re seeking a loan, there are much better places to look than CashUSA.

Where CashUSA falls short

Theoretically, loan connection services should match borrowers with lenders that can offer the best deal based on their individual financial situation — credit score, income level, etc. CashUSA doesn’t even pretend to do that, although you must read the fine print at the bottom of its website to figure that out.

Here is exactly what it says: “We often use a ‘ping-tree’ model… to connect the highest bidder to a consumer. So, if you receive a loan offer, it is likely from the highest bidder and not from the lender offering the best loan terms.”

Even borrowers with less-than-perfect credit have better options than this. For example, OneMain Financial offers secured and unsecured loans up to $20,000, and it doesn’t have a minimum credit score to apply. It also has thousands of positive reviews, unlike CashUSA.

What makes CashUSA shine?

We can appreciate that CashUSA discloses what it does — there’s even a banner at the top of every webpage proclaiming that the service is free, but it “may be compensated for sharing your info and marketing non-loan products.”

However, that’s not a good enough reason to recommend it. There are plenty of other options to get a personal loan from legit lenders that consider a wide range of credit scores.

CashUSA loan details

CashUSA contact info

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How to qualify for CashUSA

Requirements to qualify for loans from CashUSA are similar to most online lenders or marketplaces.

• Be at least 18 and a US citizen or permanent resident
• Be employed for at least 90 days
• Make at least $1,000 a month after taxes
• Have a valid checking account in your name
• Have a valid phone number and email address

How to apply

If you decide to roll the dice and apply, it’s easy.

1. Fill out the online application.
2. Review your offer if you’re connected with a lender.
3. Proceed with a hard credit check if you like the offer.
4. Receive funding as soon as one business day if approved for a loan.

How CashUSA compares to other lenders

5 of 5 results

Updated regularly

Finder Score	Loan amount	Turnaround time	Requirements
Promoted 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	At least 18 and a US resident, Valid Social Security number, At least 60 days of banking history, Proof of consistent income, Positive bank balance, Get paid by direct deposit.	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 siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 8.2 Great Cleo	8.2 Great	$20 to $250	3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.	Not stated	Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 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	You must have an active Varo Bank Account with a positive balance, no delinquent Varo Line of Credit or charged off Believe account in prior 6 months. Varo Advance qualification is subject to evaluation of consumer reports and Varo account activity.	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 siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.4 Excellent OppLoans Installment Loans	9.4 Excellent	$500 to $5,000	As soon as the same business day	+18 years old, Receive paychecks through direct deposit, $1,500 minimum monthly income, Live in eligible state	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 siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
8.8 Great Albert Instant	8.8 Great	$25 to $1,000	Within minutes	An active bank account with transaction history linked to Albert	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 siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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How we picked these

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

CashUSA reviews and complaints

CashUSA has an F rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). There are no positive reviews, and almost all the negative complaints are about customers getting calls about loans they never took out. A few complained of excessive solicitation, getting turned down for a loan or the frustration of applying for a loan and instead getting offers for other — unwanted — services.

CashUSA does not fare any better on Trustpilot, where it also has only bad reviews. Most say it’s just a scam to get your information and sell it to third parties, which results in excessive solicitation. Only one reviewer mentioned getting a loan offer from CashUSA but said they were told they needed to purchase credit insurance, which could only be paid for with a prepaid Amex gift card.

Frequently asked questions

How does CashUSA work?

By filling out a loan application on CashUSA, you consent to receive marketing communications from loans and other credit-related products. Once you submit your application, you may be offered a loan. If you’re not offered a loan, you will most likely be directed to other services such as debt settlement, credit repair or credit monitoring.

What is the minimum credit score for CashUSA?

CashUSA doesn’t disclose a minimum credit score to qualify. However, it partners with multiple lenders, so even borrowers with poor credit can apply.

Does CashUSA do a hard credit pull?

When you fill out the initial loan application, there may be a soft credit check, which won’t affect your credit score. If you decide to proceed with a loan offer, the lender may conduct a hard credit check, which can temporarily drop your credit score a few points — even if you’re not approved.