Check City is a lender that offers payday loans, installment loans, title loans, prepaid cards, and other financial services. But are loans like Check City going to give you the best deal?
Here, you’ll learn about financial institutions like Check City, how they work, and what your other options are for finding the best secure loans for you!
Finding the Right Personal Loan
Want to make sure you find the best deal on your personal loan? Below is a quick four-step guide to help you out!
- Calculate your existing debts. Make sure your budget has enough room to repay your loan.
- If you don’t know your credit score, do a soft credit check. That way, you’ll have an idea of what lenders and loan products will work best for you.
- Research lenders and compare offers. Check out online reviews to see what kind of experience other people have had with lenders.
- Submit an application once you’ve decided on a lender. Remember that every time you apply for a loan, the lender will probably request a hard credit check. So, try to limit the number of applications you submit to one!
Loans Like Check City: What You Need to Know
Check City is an in-person and online lender that offers a variety of loan products and financial services. The business was founded in 1986 in Richmond, Virginia, by Richard Rawle and his sons Tracy Rawle and Todd Rawle. Since its founding over 37 years ago, Check City has expanded into more states and offers more loan products.
What Products Does Check City Offer?
Check City offers a variety of financial products and services. Below, you’ll find all the information you need about the loans and services offered by Check City.
Online Payday Loans
Online payday loans are a cash advance option for people looking for supplemental income while in between paychecks. With this type of funding, borrowers are approved for one lump sum, which they are then usually expected to repay by the time they receive their next paycheck. This makes the repayment time for a typical payday loan about fourteen days or two weeks.
Payday loans are one of the most popular types of loans available. According to WorldMetrics, approximately 12 million Americans use payday loans every year.1 But payday loans may not be the best financial option available. In fact, payday loans often lead to a cycle of debt that is difficult for consumers to break. This is because payday loans almost always come with extremely high interest rates, sometimes 300% or more! So unless you can fully repay your balance within two weeks or less, payday loans may not be the best option for you.
Personal Installment Loans
A personal installment loan is typically an unsecured loan that borrowers can use for a wide variety of expenses. However, because there are no assets backing up the loan agreement, lenders will usually set loan amounts and interest rates based on the borrower’s creditworthiness. This means consumers with a higher credit score will usually be able to receive loan approval for higher loan amounts and lower interest rates! While some personal loan products may be available to poor credit borrowers, they may have to deal with lower loan amounts and higher interest rates.
Title Loans
Consumers who own their vehicle may be able to utilize secured loans such as title loans. A car title loan is a type of installment loan where borrowers use their vehicle title as collateral. During the terms of a title loan, lenders will sign onto the borrower’s vehicle title as a lienholder, giving them partial ownership over the vehicle. After the borrower repays their loan in full, the lender will remove themselves as a lienholder and the borrower can get their vehicle title back. However, if the borrower fails to repay their title loan, the lender has the legal right to repossess their vehicle.
Similar to payday loans, title loans are available to borrowers of all credit types, come in varying loan amounts, and also usually come with very high interest rates. So, unless you can repay your balance right away, you may want to stay away from title loans to avoid the debt and risk of losing your car.
Prepaid Cards
In addition to loans and financial services, Check City also offers prepaid cards. With a prepaid card, you will load your balance onto the card prior to use. Then, as you make purchases using your card, you’ll spend against that prepaid balance. When you’ve used up the balance, you can load more money and continue making purchases.
Check Cashing Services
If you don’t have a bank account, you may find it a hassle to find a place to cash your checks every time you get paid. With Check City, you can cash your checks at any of their in-person locations or utilize their virtual cash-checking features.
Tax Services
Tax season is stressful for many people, which is why Check City offers tax filing services. For a fee, a Check City representative can help you file your current taxes, amend a past return, or file a return from a previous year.
Where Can I Find Loans Like Check City?
Today, Check City in-person stores are located in the following states:
- Virginia
- Nevada
- Utah
- Colorado
You can also access Check City funding online! Check City provides online loans in the following states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What Are My Other Options Besides Check City?
Check City isn’t the only option for quick cash loans. Below is more information on some alternative loan options you may consider.
Bad Credit Loans
Bad credit borrowers, also called subprime borrowers, may have trouble getting approval for certain types of loans. To help these subprime consumers, some lenders offer products called bad credit loans. These loans usually come with a lower loan amount, but they can help people improve their credit after they pay off their balances.
Cash Advance Loan
Cash advances are another option if you’re looking for some extra cash to help you get by until you get your next paycheck. Borrowers can access these kinds of loans online or via cash advance apps, but beware that these options usually come with high fees. For example, while some cash advances offer early access to your paycheck, they may charge an additional fee when it’s time to repay the balance.
Bank Loans
Another financial institution that offers personal loans is a bank. However, to get loan approval from a bank, borrowers usually need to have a decent credit score. So, if you have less-than-perfect credit, you may not want to waste a hard credit check by applying for a bank loan.
Secured Credit Cards
Instead of getting a prepaid credit card, you can get a secured credit card. A secured credit card works similarly to a prepaid card, where you pay the credit limit upfront. However, a secured credit card allows borrowers to access their credit limit as soon as they repay their previous balance. So, as long as you regularly pay off the balance, you’ll have access to funds!
Below is more information about different types of secured credit cards:
| Card Type | Minimum Deposit | Annual Fee | Credit Limit | Key Features | Ideal For |
| Standard Secured Credit Card | $200 – $500 | $0 – $50 | Equal to deposit | Builds credit, reports to all three credit bureaus | Individuals with no or poor credit history |
| Partially Secured Credit Card | $49 – $99 | $25 – $50 | Higher than the deposit (e.g., $200 with a $49 deposit) | Builds credit, lower initial deposit required | Those who can afford a small initial deposit but want a higher credit limit |
| No Annual Fee Secured Card | $200 – $300 | $0 | Equal to deposit | No annual fee, builds credit | Cost-conscious individuals building credit |
| Rewards Secured Credit Card | $200 – $500 | $29 – $59 | Equal to deposit | Earns rewards points or cashback | Those looking to build credit while earning rewards |
| High Limit Secured Card | $1,000 – $5,000 | $0 – $100 | Equal to deposit | Higher credit limit potential | Individuals needing a higher credit limit |
| Secured Student Credit Card | $200 – $300 | $0 – $30 | Equal to deposit | Designed for students, may offer educational resources | Students building credit for the first time |
| Secured Business Credit Card | $500 – $5,000 | $0 – $150 | Equal to deposit | Designed for businesses, may offer business-specific rewards | Small business owners needing to build business credit |
Standard Bank Accounts
You may also get a bank account from a traditional bank like Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, or Capital One. The advantages of working with a more popular chain bank over Check City include convenience and accessibility. For example, Check City only has locations in a few states, where Chase Bank has over 15,000 ATMs throughout the United States.2
Free Tax Filing Services
While Check City offers tax filing assistance, which is always helpful, they charge a fee. Some resources, like TurboTax, have free options where people can file their taxes without paying a fee!
FAQ: Payday Loans From Check City vs. Other Personal Installment Loans
A payday loan is a short-term, high-interest loan intended to be repaid by the borrower’s next payday. Unlike personal installment loans, which are repaid in scheduled payments over a longer period, payday loans typically have a repayment period of about two weeks.
A credit check is an assessment of your credit history and credit score performed by lenders to determine your creditworthiness. It helps lenders decide the loan amount, interest rate, and terms they can offer you. There are two types of credit checks: soft credit checks, which do not affect your credit score, and hard credit checks, which can temporarily lower your score.
The loan amount you can receive from third-party lenders, such as payday loan providers or online lenders, often depends on your income and repayment ability. These lenders may offer smaller amounts such as $500 loans, with higher interest rates compared to traditional banks, which usually provide larger loans with more favorable terms based on a thorough credit check.
Yes, some loan options do not require a traditional credit check. For example, some online lenders and credit unions offer bad credit loans or cash advance loans with more lenient credit requirements. Additionally, secured loans, like title loans or secured credit cards, use collateral instead of relying solely on your credit score.
Third-party lenders often charge higher interest rates and fees than traditional banks, which can lead to a cycle of debt if the loan is not repaid on time. Additionally, some lenders may not be as transparent about their terms and conditions, so it’s important to research and choose reputable lenders.
To improve your chances of getting approved for a higher loan amount, maintain a good credit score by paying your bills on time, reducing outstanding debt, and regularly monitoring your credit report for errors. Additionally, having a stable income and a good repayment history with other lenders can positively impact your approval prospects.
Before choosing a loan provider, consider factors such as interest rates, fees, repayment terms, customer reviews, and the lender’s reputation. Compare offers from multiple lenders to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Also, be cautious of lenders who do not perform any credit checks, as they may have higher costs associated with their loans.
Third-party lenders provide alternative loan options to borrowers who may not qualify for traditional bank loans. They offer various loan products, including payday loans, personal installment loans, and title loans, catering to a wide range of credit profiles and financial needs.
CreditNinja: How Does It Compare?
CreditNinja is an online lender specializing in bad credit short-term installment loans. We’ve been helping people with quick and easy financial solutions since 2018, funding over 475,000 personal loans in that time.
How Do CreditNinja Personal Loans Work?
At CreditNinja, we know that when you’re going through a financial emergency, you need money now. That’s why we’ve streamlined the funding process to three easy steps, here’s how it works:
- Fill out a short online application
- Once approved, review your loan agreement and sign it
- Receive your loan amount via direct deposit right away*
Why Is CreditNinja a Better Option For Bad Credit Borrowers?
CreditNinja hasn’t been one of the most popular options for bad credit loans for no reason! Check out some awesome benefits you can enjoy when you work with the financial experts at CreditNinja:
- Fast online application
- Top-notch customer service
- Quick funding*
- Industry-wide competitive interest rates
- All credit scores are considered
Do I Qualify For a Personal Loan With CreditNinja?
CreditNinja is proud to offer personal installment loans to consumers with a wide variety of credit scores. We aim to be a more sustainable financial solution than payday loans and other bad credit loan options. That means you don’t have to have a perfect credit score to qualify for a personal loan with CreditNinja.
Check out our easy online application to see how much cash you could get approved for today!
References:
Additional Loan Options
