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8.6

Finder Score

Great

Check City Payday Loan isn't available on Finder right now.

Turnaround time: Same business day to 1 business days

Our verdict

Online and in-store loans from a transparent payday lender. But watch out for high fees.

Check City is a licensed payday lender that offers payday loans across 15 states. It’s more transparent about state protections for consumers than most payday lenders. But this means that fees, terms and loan amounts vary widely depending on where you live.

Consider another lender if you want to apply in person. Check City only has in-store locations in Utah, Nevada, Virginia and Colorado. Residents of other states can apply online. Read our full review.

Pros

Online and in-store pickup
Quick processing
Multiple services
Bad credit is OK
Responsible lender

finder.com's rating: 4.3 / 5.0

★★★★★

Bottom line: Check City offers a variety of loans and money services to its clients. And while it has the same risks as any short-term loan, it's transparent policies may make it worth your time. Read our full review.

Details

Product details

Product Name	Check City Payday Loan
Loan Term	Varies by state
Loan Security	Unsecured
Turnaround Time	Same business day to 1 business days
Costs	Varies by state
Requirements	Active checking account, photo ID, steady income

Check City rates, fees and terms

Check City rates, fees and terms vary widely depending on where you live. Typically you have between seven and 31 days to repay your loan with a fee of around $15 to $20 per $100 borrowed.
But that’s not always the case. In a few states, terms run as long as five or six months, with interest instead of a flat fee.
Regardless of how much you borrow, this often translates into annual percentage rate (APR) of 150% to over 600%. In extreme cases, it can top 1,042.86%. You can check your rate on Check City’s website.

Is Check City legit?

Yes, Check City is a legitimate licensed payday lender in 15 states. In most states, it offers payday loans, though you can also find personal loans, installment loans and title loans in some states — in addition to other financial services.
It’s a member of the Utah Consumers Lending Association, a trade organization that sets standards for payday lenders. And it’s upfront about consumer protections that your state offers. To protection your information online, Check City uses McAfee and DigiCert to make sure its site is safe.

Pros and Cons

Displays state licenses on website
Same-day financing if you apply in a store
Upfront about state consumer protections

APRs top 1,042.86% in some cases
Only offers in-store financing in four states
No online loans in Virginia or Colorado

Compare alternatives to Check City

Here’s how Check City compares to other payday lenders and alternative short-term services.

5 of 5 results

Finder Score	Loan amount	Turnaround time	Requirements
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 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.	Not stated	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 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 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	+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 site View details Compare product selectionCompare	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 site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 5 of 5 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

MUST READ:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) no longer requires lenders to consider your ability to repay a loan. If you don’t repay a short-term loan on time, you could end up owing several times the amount you borrowed. Carefully review your finances and the loan cost to make sure it fits your budget.

Before you take out a short-term loan

Payday loans, installment loans and auto title loans come with high rates and fees, which can trap you in a cycle of debt. The majority of short-term loan borrowers renew their loan at least once, piling on fees that make it even more difficult to repay.

Consider alternatives before opting for a payday, installment or title loan:

Local resources. Government agencies, nonprofits and local charities often offer free financial services and help with food, utilities and rent for those in need.
Payment extensions. Talk with your bill providers about a longer payment plan or extension on your due date if you're behind on payments.
Credit cards. Credit cards typically charge lower interest rates than short-term loans, even on cash advances, making them a flexible, less costly alternative for up to the $500 you can typically take out with a payday loan.

Check City reviews and complaints

BBB accredited	Yes
BBB rating	A+
BBB customer reviews	4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 27 customer reviews
BBB customer complaints	14
Trustpilot score	4.9 out of 5, based on 2,608 customer reviews
Customer reviews verified as of	08 December 2025

Check City receives mostly positive reviews from borrowers. Many are pleased with the speed of their loans and the understanding customer service. But some report issues with the high cost of the loan and inaccuracies with its billing.

Am I eligible?

To qualify for a loan, you must meet these requirements:

Regular source of income
Open checking account
At least 18 years old
US citizen or permanent resident

You also must live in a state where Check City operates.

Where are Check City payday loans available?

Check City operates in 15 states — though it only has locations in four.

Search for your state:

State	In-store or online	Loans available
Alabama	Online	Payday loans
Alaska	Online	Payday loans
California	Online	Payday loans
Colorado	In-store	In-store cash advances, installment loans
Hawaii	Online	Payday loans
Idaho	Online	Installment loans
Kansas	Online	Payday loans
Missouri	Online	Installment loans
Nevada	Both	Payday loans, in-store cash advances, title loans
Texas	Online	Installment loans
Utah	Both	Payday loans, in-store cash advances, title loans
Virginia	In-store	Installment loans, title loans
Washington	Online	Payday loans
Wisconsin	Online	Installment loans
Wyoming	Online	Payday loans

Check City only has in-store locations in Utah, Virginia, Colorado and Nevada. And it doesn’t offer online loans in Virginia or Colorado.

What information do I need to apply?

You need the following information to apply for a Check City payday loan at a minimum.

Social Security number
Proof of income and employment
Bank account number and routing number

How do I apply?

Depending on your state of residence, you can apply for a payday loan by visiting a Check City location near you or on its website by following these steps:

Click the Go to site link on this page or go to the Check City website and select Apply now to start Check City’s online application.
Enter your full name, email address, date of birth and zip code. Click Continue.
Enter information about your income, employment, bank account and identity.
Read Check city’s application disclosures and create a password for your account. Click Submit your application.

Check City will review your application within minutes. If approved, your loan may be funded within one to two business days online — or the same day if you apply at a store.

Payment options

There are a number of ways to make payments on a Check City loan.

Funds can be drafted from your bank account
Check City can deposit the check you left as collateral
You can pay using cash or a debit card

Your loan agreement with Check City should state the due date and final amount you need to pay. And while you can renew your loan in some states, avoid it if possible. Otherwise, you may be charged multiple fees that can quickly make it more difficult to repay.
If you make a late payment or default, Check City may charge a late fee or a returned payment fee, depending on your state. It may also impact your credit, so if you aren’t able to repay your loan, contact Check City as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Other services offered by Check City

In addition to payday loans, Check City also provides access to these services at its branch locations:

Personal and business check cashing
Money orders and money transfers
Prepaid debit cards
Prepaid wireless
Gold buying
Tax preparation services
Bill pay services

See how Check City compares to other payday lenders and low-cost alternatives. Or, read about lenders like Check City.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about Check City loans.

Is Check City a direct lender?

Yes, Check City provides your loan funds directly to you in every state where it is licensed to operate, with the exception of Texas where Check City services your loan through an affiliated short-term loan provider.

Can I apply over the phone?

You can apply over the phone. Keep in mind you may need to fax documents to Check City in order to apply by this method.

Can I pay the loan amount ahead of time?

Yes, you can pay the loan off completely before the end of the term without incurring any penalties.

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Anna Finder

Editor

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Briana

December 31, 2018

Is it possible to apply online or over the phone?

Charisse Finder

January 01, 2019

Hi Briana,

Thanks for reaching out to finder.

Yes, Check City offer loans over the phone for clients that apply online (via their website). However, please note that these loans won’t allow you to get your money until the next day. If you need to get cash on the same day, you will have to visit their store location and apply.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to message us if you have further questions.

Cheers,

Charisse

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July 12, 2017

Do y’all do installments loans

Anndy Finder

July 13, 2017

Hi Ty,

Thanks for your question.

You may compare your options if you are looking for an installment loan.

Kindly review the eligibility criteria and the relevant terms and conditions of the loan before submitting your application.

Cheers,

Anndy

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Anna Serio was a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY. See full profile

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