Short-Term Credit Underwriting, TILA APR & State Usury Laws
Technical whitepapers, statutory rate matrices, EFTA banking rights, and emergency budgeting resources from the Consumer Credit Review Board.
Emergency Budgeting: 7 Viable Alternatives to High-Interest Cash Advances
Low-cost emergency cash solutions: Credit Union PALs (28% APR), 401(k) emergency distributions, employer salary advances, utility hardship programs, and peer lending.
Read Guide →Fintech InnovationEarned Wage Access (EWA) vs. Traditional Payday Advances: Fee Structures & Regulatory Classification
How Earned Wage Access platforms (EarnIn, DailyPay, Brigit) work: voluntary tips, expedited transfer fees, and the CFPB proposed rulemaking on EWA credit classification.
Read Guide →Federal RegulationsMilitary Lending Act (MLA) 36% MAPR Protections: Active Duty Covered Borrower Bans
Understanding federal protections under 32 CFR Part 232: the 36% Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) cap, mandatory covered borrower database verification, and penalties.
Read Guide →Underwriting & ScoringAlternative Credit Bureaus: How Teletrack, Clarity Services & Experian Score Small-Dollar Credit
How subprime underwriting scores work: specialty consumer reporting agencies (CoreLogic Teletrack, Experian Clarity, FactorTrust) tracking small-dollar inquiries.
Read Guide →Consumer RightsFair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): Post-Default Rights, Harassment Bans & Garnishment Caps
Borrower legal protections after default: 15 U.S.C. § 1692 harassment prohibitions, mandatory debt validation letters, and federal Title III wage garnishment restrictions.
Read Guide →Banking LawElectronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) & Regulation E: Mandatory ACH Debit Limits & Stop Payments
Your rights under Regulation E: electronic check authorizations, the illegality of conditioning credit on preauthorized ACH debits, and how to execute bank stop payments.
Read Guide →Lending RegulationsTribal Lending Entities & Sovereign Immunity: Federal Court Rulings & Choice-of-Law Enforceability
Examining online tribal lending: sovereign immunity doctrines, state attorney general enforcement actions, and consumer arbitration clause enforceability.
Read Guide →State Regulations50-State Payday & Small-Dollar Lending Matrix: Permitted Jurisdictions & Usury Limits
A state-by-state regulatory breakdown: states permitting traditional storefront payday lending, 36% rate-cap states, and strict usury prohibition jurisdictions.
Read Guide →Credit ComparisonShort-Term Credit Formats Compared: Single-Payment Payday vs. Multi-Month Installment vs. LOC
Evaluating credit structures: single balloon repayment vs. amortized monthly installment schedules vs. open-end revolving lines of credit.
Read Guide →Lending RegulationsTruth in Lending Act (TILA) Disclosures: Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Math on 14-Day Credit
Deconstructing small-dollar loan finance fees: how a $15 fee per $100 borrowed over 14 days annualizes to 391.07% APR under federal Regulation Z standards.
Read Guide →Federal RegulationsCFPB Small-Dollar Lending Regulations: Ability-to-Repay (ATR) Benchmarks & Rollover Limits
Analyzing federal CFPB consumer protections: income verification mandates, limits on continuous borrowing cycles, and payment withdrawal restrictions.
Read Guide →Consumer ProtectionsEscaping the Rollover Cycle: Statutory Extended Payment Plans (EPPs) & Fee Waivers
How to utilize state-mandated Extended Payment Plans (EPPs): requesting free installment restructuring from Community Financial Services Association (CFSA) lenders.
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