When you need cash, and you need it fast, even the thought of going through the painstaking process of traditional lending is often the last thing on your mind. If you have found yourself in a situation like this, you might have considered looking into a payday or title loan as a potential solution.
Check City is a short-term lender that offers both online services and in-store services. Currently, the only physical store locations are in Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Virginia. Although Check City does not have any locations across the country, the company lends itself safely to multiple states via online services.
In an effort to help you gain access to the correct information when it comes time to choosing a financial service provider, we have put together this comprehensive Check City Review.
Table of Contents
- General Information About Check City
- The Pros of Check City
- The Cons of Check City
- Overall Reputation and Reviews for Check City
- Q&A for Check City
- Conclusion
General Information About Check City
Initially founded in 1986, Check City started as a payday loan company. Several tangible locations distributed across Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Virginia have also expanded their services to 14 states online.
Check City now offers even more services than before, including money orders, gold buying, check cashing, prepaid debit cards, and more.
Check City complies with federal laws regarding cash advances, including the Truth and Lending Act (TILA), the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), the Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).
The Pros of Check City
When you do business with Check City, there are some benefits you can look forward to experiencing, including:
- Easy application process
- Quick approval
- Convenient repayment system
- Extended payment plan available
- Easy to navigate website
- Accredited in the United States
- Bad credit loans available
Easy Application Process
Check City is known for its simplified application process consisting of only a single step, unlike any other payday lender out there that requires a lengthy process and pages of applications to submit in full.
All of the application information is conveniently found on one page, making the process more accessible than ever for customers. To submit your application through Check City, they require the following information:
- Personal information
- Employment verification
- Income information
- Bank account information
- Form of government-issued ID
- A reference
You have the option to apply in person if you live within one of the four states in which Check City has brick-and-mortar locations or online. Once you fill out the application and submit it, it will be reviewed by a Check City representative.
Quick Approvals
As long as you have completed your application with all of the necessary information, the final decision regarding your loan will come back within just a few minutes. Following your approval, you will need to sign your loan documents. Your funds will be directly put into your bank account on the following business day so long as you’ve finished submitting by 8:00 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday.
If you complete the loan application process over the weekend, your funds will be available the following business day, which would be Monday.
Convenient Repayment System
Of course, you can opt to visit Check City in-store. Once your loan has been approved and signed, you will need to write a signed check in the total amount of your repayment to Check City. The check will include your loan amount as well as the interest rate.
When your loan has come due, Check City will cash the check you leave with them on your agreed-upon date. With this process, you do not have to worry about coming back to the store to repay your loan or worry about late fees.
For those who take out a loan with Check City online, the funds will be directly withdrawn from your bank account on the day you and Check City set up. Similar to the in-store repayment system, you will not have to worry about late fees.
Extended Payment Plan Available
Anyone who is an in-store customer for Check City has the option to be eligible for the Extended Payment Plan, should they not be able to repay the loan on time. Check City splits up your bills into four equal amounts through the Extended Payment Plan, with no additional interest charged to you.
It is very rare to find a short-term lender that provides extended payment plans without added interest or fees of any sort. Check City is one of the very few that offers this option to its in-store customers. It is important to note, though, that you can only be able to access the Extended Payment Plan once per year.
Easy to Navigate Website
Check City has a website that is easy to navigate, which can be incredibly helpful when shopping for different loan products. Additionally, because it services so many states across the country, finding state-specific information can become challenging. Luckily, it is simple to see all of the information you may need due to the user-friendly interfacing.
A marked map makes it easy to identify which states Check City operates out of, both online and in person. And, of course, the one-step online application process is readily available on the website whenever needed.
Accredited in the United States
If you have looked up short-term loan options online before, you have undoubtedly come across scam companies. Unfortunately, the United States is filled with unscrupulous lending companies. Luckily, the government and other private institutions have set up regulating bodies to ensure customers will not be scammed.
Check City is accredited in the United States by the CFSA, UCLA, and the Better Business Bureau.
Bad Credit Loans Available
There are several different loan options available through Check City for someone with bad or minimal credit history. While most lenders would consider someone with bad credit high risk and likely not lend to them, Check City offers unsecured loans and isn’t concerned with your credit score.
Check City does not typically run standard credit checks through your application, so you don’t have to worry about your application damaging your credit score even further.
The Cons of Check City
As to be expected, there are also downsides to choosing Check City as your financial service provider. These negative features include:
- Extremely high Annual Percentage Rates (APRs)
- Late payment fees
- Additional hidden fees
- Short term repayment period
Extremely High APRs
While it is not uncommon for short-term lending financial providers to charge high APRs to their customers, it is the business’s nature when looking at a Check City comparison to other lenders.
APRs through Check City range from 214.71% up to 1173.21%. Your APR details are determined by your geographical location, the term of your loan, and the amount borrowed.
Late Payment Fees
In addition to initial interest and fees added onto your original borrowed amount, if you miss a payment or your payment is returned due to not having enough in your account at the time, you can expect to get even more fees.
If Check City does not receive your payment, a representative will try to reach out to you via phone call, email, or text to make alternative arrangements. If your account becomes delinquent, it may be auctioned off to another collection agency.
You should also note that delinquent accounts get reported to credit bureaus, meaning it could negatively impact your credit score and may make it harder to access loans in the future.
Additional Hidden Fees
On top of all of the fees already discussed, there are some additional fees as well. For example, some states charge a loan fee that ranges from $15 to $30 for every $100 you borrow. Verification fees can also be added to your borrowed amount.
Because there are many fees that you may or may not be aware of through Check City, you must detail out what your APR rates are and what costs you are committing to in your loan terms before taking out a loan.
Short-Term Repayment Period
The maximum length of time given for you to repay a short-term loan is 62 days. This period includes the Extended Payment Plan, which is only available to in-store customers in the four states in which Check City has standing buildings.
Fortunately, Check City does offer alternative lending options that can extend for longer, including installment title loans, but make sure you check all of the details of this loan closely before signing.
Overall Reputation and Reviews for Check City
Although Check City is a larger lending company, it is still worth looking further into its overall reputation. The easiest way to do that is by looking at Check City ratings on popular, reputable sites online.
The Better Business Bureau is a private, non-profit organization focused on developing consumer trust within the marketplace. The Better Business Bureau ranks Check City with one of the highest ratings we’ve seen with a short-term lender, giving it a 4.43-star rating.
While this is an excellent rating for Check City, the reviews are a bit dated, with September 2019 being the most recent favorable review. If you look through the complaints, you will see that each one has been directly responded to, in detail, by a compliance officer.
According to Trustpilot, another consumer review website, Check City has a 4.5-star rating with over 1,400 reviews. The most recent post from August 2020, so it seems as though this might be a more updated source for direct comments from Check City customers.
Q&A for Check City
If you’ve still got questions about Check City, look at our Q&A to find additional information about this short-term financial provider.
Which States Does Check City Operate in?
Check City currently operates in 15 states across the United States, including:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Despite being available for online services in these states, Check City only has stores in the following four states:
- Colorado
- Nevada
- Utah
- Virginia
Which Type of Loans Does Check City Offer?
Since Check City is a direct lender, it can offer its customers several different short-term loan options.
Payday Loans
A payday loan can help you if you are in a bind and need quick cash between paychecks. When used effectively, payday loans, or payday advances, can be a better alternative to paying a late, overdraft, over-the-limit, or reconnection fee to another financial institute.
Payday loans might be helpful to you in any of the following situations: emergency expenses, paying everyday bills, unable to get a short-term loan through your bank, avoiding borrowing money from family or friends, or making a personal repayment.
Installment Loans
Installment loans are an option to help you get more significant amounts of money quickly. Many people seek out installment loans as an option to provide them with more money and lower scheduled payments over a more extended amount of time, usually several weeks or months.
Through Check City, you can borrow up to $2,500 in installment loans without any penalty for repaying your loan early. You can also enjoy a variety of flexible payment options, as set out by your loan terms.
Personal Loans
In addition to payday loans and title loans, Check City also provides personal loans to provide financial assistance for your short-term needs. With varying amounts ranging from $300 up to $3,000, Check City will get you the cash you need with a lower APR than other options it provides.
Personal loans’ benefits include lower APRs, the quick application process, affordable payments, pay back over time, only pay for what you use, and no origination fees.
Installment Title Loans
With Check City installment title loans, you can borrow cash against the value of your car, truck, or motorcycle with the security of a personal loan and terms up to 12 months, without any penalty for early repayment.
To get an installment title loan through Check City, you will need your vehicle and title, a picture ID, proof of having the ability to repay, and that’s it.
Other Services
Other quick cash options and services provided by Check City include:
- Cash advances
- Check cashing
- Business check cashing
- Money orders and transfers
- Prepaid debit cards
- Cash for gold
- Tax services
How Do I Qualify for Check City Loans, and Do They Require a Credit Check?
While the requirements for loans through Check City vary depending on what loan you are looking to take out, it has three standard requirements. First, you will need to have proof of a steady source of income. Next, you will need a government-issued photo ID. Lastly, you will need a checking account.
There are state requirements regarding the minimum age. At a minimum, you will need to be at least 18 years old to take out a loan with Check City, although some states require you to be at least 21 years old. Regardless of your age, you will have to be a United States citizen to borrow from Check City.
When you submit your application, you will need to provide basic personal information, which includes:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Social security number
- Email address
- Phone number
- Employment information
- Bank account details
- Income details
If you do not currently have an active checking account, you can also utilize the Check City Signature Loans, which only requires your signature. These loan amounts and interest rates are likely to be much higher, however.
Check City does not typically utilize traditional credit checks as part of its payday loan approval process. Under its own discretion, Check City may verify information provided in your application using a national consumer loan underwriting database. Check City can find information relating to previous cash advance transactions you may have through these services.
How Much Does Check City Cost?
The rates of interest from Check City vary depending on each individual’s financial situation and geographical location. You can easily access detailed information regarding state-by-state costs by checking the website Loan Rates by State.
While the rates and fees vary, you can anticipate paying an APR somewhere between 214.71% and 1173.21%. Additional fees also vary by state but are typically between $15 and $30 per $100 borrowed.
To get a quote on your financial needs, you should reach out to Check City directly. Since you don’t have to be concerned about a hard credit check, you will not have to worry about your application negatively impacting your credit score.
Conclusion
Check City is an industry leader for short-term financing options, having been in the business for nearly 30 years. Don’t just take our word for it, though. Take a look at some of the great reviews through the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot for detailed accounts of customers’ experiences working with Check City.
While it is great having the peace of mind to experience quality customer service, it does come with a price. Check City offers quick cash that can be approved in minutes, but you will pay higher fees than with alternative lenders, up to 1100%.
The bottom line is to make sure you look into all of the details and know exactly what you will be expected to pay before signing any documents. Otherwise, your experience with Check City should prove to be positive.