Pros Cons Reports payments to three major consumer credit bureaus Monthly membership fee No hard credit inquiry required Only offers small loan amounts Loan funds may go to a reserve account until you pay back the loan
What you need to know about a MoneyLion credit-builder loan
MoneyLion is a financial services company that offers a membership program that includes online banking services, cash back rewards, credit-builder loans and more. You can create a MoneyLion account for free, which will give you access to a zero-fee checking account and an investment account. And with an account, you may be eligible for 0% APR for cash advances of up to $250.
The upgraded Credit Builder Plus membership costs $19.99 per month and offers all of the above — plus access to the credit-builder loan.
How a MoneyLion credit-builder loan works
A credit-builder loan could help you build credit with on-time payments since MoneyLion reports to all three major credit bureaus.
MoneyLion offers credit-builder loans up to $1,000. The company will review your finances and a linked checking account, and decide whether you’re approved and how much money you’ll receive.
MoneyLion is unique because you might get immediate access to some or even all of the $1,000 credit-builder loan if you’re approved. Any of the funds that aren’t deposited into your checking account go into an interest-bearing credit reserve account until your loan is paid in full.
APRs range from competitive to high
MoneyLion offers credit-builder loans with interest rates that can range from 5.99% APR on the low end to 29.99% on the high end. An APR of 5.99% is low compared with rates on credit-builder loans offered by some other lenders. But you’re not guaranteed to be approved for a loan at this rate. MoneyLion says it will look at factors like your income to determine what APR you’ll be approved for. And don’t forget the $19.99 monthly membership fee.
Read about our picks for the best credit-builder loans.
A chance to offset paid membership
To apply for a credit-builder loan, you must become a Credit Builder Plus member and pay $19.99 per month. But you might be able to get part or all of your monthly membership fee offset by payouts from the Lion’s Share Loyalty Program.
In this program, MoneyLion members get rewarded for meeting certain requirements, such as logging into the app and making a certain number of purchases. Platinum is the highest Lion’s Share Loyalty Program tier. Members in the platinum tier could receive a $19.99 payout to their MoneyLion investment account — if they can meet the requirements: using the MoneyLion Visa® Debit Card to make at least 20 purchases (of $10 or more) each calendar month and logging in to the app every day of the month.
No credit check
You don’t need stellar credit scores to apply for a Credit Builder Plus membership to get access to the credit-builder loan. In fact, MoneyLion doesn’t pull your credit at all. Instead, MoneyLion reviews your primary checking account — which must meet certain criteria to qualify — to determine if you’re eligible for the loan.
Potentially fast funding
After reviewing your finances, MoneyLion will deposit — into an account of your choosing — the amount it agrees to give you immediate access to. Any of the funds that you don’t receive upfront are put into a reserve account until the loan is paid off.
You could get access to the upfront funds right away — based on your qualifications — if you choose to get money sent to your MoneyLion debit card or MoneyLion checking account. But it can take up to three business days to get funds deposited into a third-party checking account via ACH. And keep in mind that depending on your bank, there may be a wait before you can access your cash.
A closer look at a MoneyLion credit-builder loan
MoneyLion has a mobile app you can use to open an account and apply for Credit Builder Plus membership. Here are a few details you need to know about the credit-builder loan before applying for a membership.
- No prepayment penalty — You can pay off your MoneyLion credit builder loan early, and there will be no early payoff penalty fee.
- Deferment support available — If you need to postpone a payment for some reason, MoneyLion might allow you to defer a payment if you submit an application for deferment.
- Free credit monitoring — MoneyLion offers free credit monitoring powered by TransUnion. You’ll get a full credit report so you can review it for any potential errors or fraudulent activity.
- Extra membership perks — The no-fee MoneyLion checking account that’s available with your account lets you earn cash back when you make purchases from participating brands.
Who a MoneyLion loan is good for
MoneyLion doesn’t perform a hard credit inquiry when you apply for its Plus membership, so it could be an option for you if you’re working on your credit or having trouble getting approved for a loan. But you shouldn’t necessarily count on this credit-builder loan to cover an emergency. It’s a relatively small sum, and some of the money may be placed in a reserve account until you pay off the loan.
On-time payments made toward the MoneyLion credit-builder loan could help you build a record of positive payment history. To cut down on your costs, consider paying off the loan early to minimize interest charges.
If you want to build credit and are attracted to MoneyLion’s other offerings, the company might be a good fit for you.
How to apply with MoneyLion
The MoneyLion credit-builder loan application process can be done on a desktop or through the mobile app. The first step is creating a MoneyLion account. To enroll in a MoneyLion account, you must sign up with your full name and address.
After completing this step, you can apply for Credit Builder Plus membership to request a credit-builder loan. Here’s what you’ll need to complete the entire process.
- Full name
- Full email address
- Social Security number
- Home address
- Verifiable phone number
- Verifiable bank account that’s in good standing (at least 60 days old and has deposits that show steady income)
Not sure if MoneyLion is right for you? Consider these alternatives.
- Earnin: Earnin offers paycheck cash advances and may be a good alternative if getting access to cash is a higher priority right now than building credit.
- Self: If you want the flexibility to borrow and save a little more money with a credit-builder loan, Self may be a good option to consider.
