Borrowing 101: Easy Money Guides

How Bank Account History Can Affect a Loan Request


Credit reports are a big part of loan applications, but they aren’t the only part. Bank statements and data on your account transactions can be used to check your income, check and analyze your cash flow, check if you own your account, and see if you can afford the monthly payments. Because there is no[…]

450 Credit Score: What to Check Before Applying for a Loan


A low credit score can be difficult to understand, let alone explain. It alone cannot predict a lender’s decision, suggest why your credit score is low, or indicate whether you can afford a new payment. A 450 credit score can make it difficult to qualify for a traditional loan. You may also end up with[…]

How Texas City Ordinances Affect Payday Lending


Local Texas ordinances can affect payday lending terms in some areas. They can dictate the maximum amount a customer can borrow, rules on loan renewal, refinancing, and the payment plan. Not every Texas city has the same rules. Therefore, a borrower should check the local laws before they take out a payday loan, especially if[…]

What Is a Credit Access Business in Texas?


In Texas, a Credit Access Business (CAB) assists customers in obtaining credit from a third party lender. Typically, a CAB does not provide funds. Rather, a CAB acts as an intermediary between the customer and the lender. This business model is prevalent in Texas for both payday and auto title loans. This distinction matters to[…]

How Payday Lending Laws Work in Texas


Texas payday lending laws are unique and do allow for payday lending. Costs and fees for payday lending vary by lender, by whether a Credit Access Business is involved in the transaction, and by whether local city ordinances apply to the loan. This guide breaks down the primary Texas payday lending rules and regulations. It[…]

How Income Can Affect a Borrowing Request


Income is just one of many things lenders will look at in determining if they want to lend money. Lenders could be interested in how much you get paid, what you are getting paid for, and whether or not there is a good chance that the source of your income will continue. Usually, your income[…]

What Happens If You Miss a Loan Payment?


If your loan is due now and you do not make that payment, your account will become “past-due” tomorrow. Missing a payment breaks the terms of your loan and causes interest to begin accruing on the remaining balance, increasing the total cost of your loan and extending how long it takes to repay it. How[…]

What Is APR and Why It Matters Before You Borrow


APR, short for annual percentage rate, expresses borrowing costs on an annual basis. Many loan contracts disclose the APR with the interest and certain fees included. Credit card APRs, on the other hand, reflect the interest rate, and disclosures of credit card fees are usually made separately. That difference can be substantial when rates are[…]

What Is ACH and How Does It Work?


ACH is an acronym that represents Automated Clearing House — a fitting name for the U.S.-based clearinghouse network through which funds can be moved directly from one bank account to another. Most people have used the ACH system at some point in their lives, whether they knew it or not; this may include using a[…]