Money Stash is a licensed online lender serving borrowers across the United States, providing loan products to borrowers in Idaho, Missouri, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. Loan amounts run from $100 to $1,250, and the entire application is online. This guide covers what money lending is, the loans Money Stash offers, what to look for in a money lending company, what borrowers should expect to see in the loan agreement, and how to apply.
Borrowers can apply online or call 1-800-867-1999.
Key Takeaways
- Money lending is the regulated practice of providing funds to a borrower in exchange for repayment with interest. Licensed lenders comply with state and federal consumer protection law.
- Money Stash is a licensed online money lender operating in Idaho, Missouri, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. Loan amounts run from $100 to $1,250.
- Money Stash is a direct lender, not a broker. The company makes its own approval decisions and signs every loan agreement directly with the borrower.
- Founded in 2018 with a focus on responsible lending for borrowers with all credit backgrounds.
- Money Stash loans are designed for borrowers with all credit backgrounds, including those who have been declined elsewhere.
- No prepayment penalties. Borrowers can pay off a Money Stash loan early without a penalty fee.
Bills do not wait. Rent is due on the first. The car needs a new alternator before Monday’s shift. The electric company sent a shut-off notice with a one-week deadline. For someone living paycheck-to-paycheck, a single bad week can mean missed work, a late fee, or a credit score drop that takes months to undo.
Money lending is one tool for bridging those gaps. The rest of this guide breaks down how it works, what products Money Stash offers, how to match the right product to the situation, what makes a money lending company trustworthy, and how to apply.
What Is Money Lending and How Does It Work?
Money lending is the practice of providing funds to a borrower in exchange for repayment, usually with interest, over an agreed-upon period. In its modern, regulated form, money lending is carried out by licensed companies that meet state and federal consumer protection requirements set by agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Three distinctions matter when comparing money lending companies.
Licensed vs. unlicensed. Consumer money lending is regulated at the state level. A licensed money lender holds an active lending license in each state where it operates. An unlicensed operator is breaking the law. Money Stash holds active licenses in each of its five operating states.
Direct lender vs. broker. A direct lender uses its own capital, makes its own approval decisions, and signs the loan agreement directly with the borrower. A broker collects an application and routes it to one or more third-party lenders, which usually means the borrower’s contact information gets sold to multiple companies. Money Stash is a direct lender.
State law sets the rules. Loan amounts, term lengths, fee caps, and required disclosures are all set by state statute. Every Money Stash loan agreement is governed by the laws of the state where the borrower lives.
Licensed money lending is also subject to federal consumer protection law. The most directly relevant statutes are the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), which governs disclosure of credit costs; the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which governs how credit information is used; the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), which prohibits discrimination in lending; and the Military Lending Act, which extends specific protections to active-duty service members, their spouses, and dependents.
The Types of Money Lending Products
Money lending is not one product. There are different loan products available in the marketplace. Here are some loans that Money Stash offers:
1. Installment Loans
An installment loan is repaid in fixed, equal payments over a defined schedule. Money Stash installment loans run from $100 to $1,250. Installment loans suit borrowers who need more than one paycheck can comfortably repay and who want the predictability of a fixed payment. Common use cases include car repair, medical bills, and one-time expenses spread across multiple pay cycles. See the Installment Loans page.
2. Personal Loans
A personal loan is an unsecured loan a borrower uses for general purposes. No collateral is required, and the lender does not restrict how the funds are used. Money Stash personal loans range from $100 to $1,250 and are designed for borrowers with all credit backgrounds. See the Personal Loans page.
3. Short-Term Loans
A short-term loan is a small-dollar loan repaid over a brief period set by state law and the loan agreement. Money Stash short-term loans run from $100 to $1,250. They suit borrowers who need cash for a single urgent expense, expect to repay within a short timeframe, and want a quick online application. See the Short-Term Loans page.
When to Use Which Loan Type
Choosing the right product matters more than picking the lender with the loudest ad. The wrong product for a situation can cost more or fit the budget worse. Here is a simple way to think about which Money Stash product matches which situation.
One urgent expense, needs to spread the repayment across multiple pay periods. An installment loan fits. Fixed equal payments make budgeting predictable, and the loan can be paid off early without a prepayment penalty.
Funds needed for any general purpose, flexible use. A personal loan fits. Personal loans are unsecured, and the lender does not restrict how the funds are used.
Brief cash gap, expects to repay within a short timeframe. A short-term loan fits. Short-term loans are designed for short repayment cycles set by state law and the loan agreement.
The product matters, but so does the fit between the borrower’s actual budget and the loan’s repayment schedule. A loan that fixes this week’s problem and creates next month’s problem is a worse outcome than no loan at all. Borrowers should look at the full repayment schedule in the loan agreement before signing, and choose the product whose repayment fits the income that will actually be there to pay it.
What Is in a Money Lending Agreement
The loan agreement is the legally binding document that controls every Money Stash loan. Federal law requires licensed lenders to disclose specific information clearly and in writing before the borrower signs. The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) is the federal rule that sets these disclosure requirements.
Five items in the loan agreement matter most.
Loan amount. The actual amount of money the lender provides to the borrower at funding. Sometimes called the “amount financed.”
Finance charge. The total cost of credit expressed in dollars. This is what the borrower is paying for the loan, separate from the principal being borrowed back. Origination fees, interest, and any other cost of credit are included here.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. APR allows comparison across different loan products of different lengths. Money Stash’s APR varies by state, loan type, and loan amount. For state-specific APR information, see the disclosure pages linked later in this guide.
Total of payments. The total dollar amount the borrower will pay over the life of the loan. This equals the loan amount plus the finance charge.
Payment schedule. The number of payments, the amount of each payment, and when each payment is due. The schedule shows exactly what the borrower owes and when.
A licensed money lender provides all five items in writing before the borrower signs. If a money lending company will not show these in writing before signing, that is a warning sign. Money Stash provides every required disclosure in the loan agreement, with state-specific details available on the disclosure pages. Money Stash loans also have no prepayment penalty, which means a borrower who repays early pays only for the days they had the money.
How to Choose a Trustworthy Money Lending Company
Six criteria separate strong money lending companies from weak ones. Each criterion below is paired with what borrowers should look for in practice.
1. State licensing
What to look for: An active lending license in every state the company operates in, with the license number available to consumers.
In practice: A trustworthy lender names the states it is licensed in and provides state-specific disclosure pages. Money Stash is licensed in Idaho, Missouri, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.
2. Direct lender, not a broker
What to look for: A company that uses its own capital, makes its own underwriting decisions, and signs its own loan agreements.
In practice: A direct lender does not “shop the application around” to other companies. A broker does. If a website application discloses that the company is “not a lender” or “matches you with lenders,” that is a broker, not a direct lender. Money Stash is a direct lender.
3. Full disclosures before signing
What to look for: A loan agreement that shows loan amount, finance charge, APR, total of payments, and payment schedule in writing, before the borrower signs.
In practice: A trustworthy lender does not ask for a signature before showing the full agreement. If a company will not put the cost in writing before signing, that is a warning sign.
4. Real customer service
What to look for: A real phone number, a real email address, and a real way to reach a human.
In practice: Money Stash provides a direct phone number, 1-800-867-1999, and email at info@moneystash.com.
5. Identifiable company with operating history
What to look for: A real company with an operating history, an identifiable team, and a physical headquarters.
In practice: Money Stash has been lending since 2018.
6. No illegal advertising claims
What to look for: A lender that does not make approval-promise or funding-promise claims that violate federal advertising law.
In practice: Approval-promise claims and funding-promise claims are prohibited under FTC truth-in-advertising rules. A trustworthy lender describes its product accurately without those promises. Money Stash describes its product accurately and never makes those promises.
A money lending company that meets all six criteria is one a borrower can apply to with confidence.
Where Money Stash Operates
Money lending is not available the same way everywhere. State law shapes which products a lender can offer, the maximum loan amount, the term length, the fees, and the required disclosures. Money Stash is licensed in five states. Borrowers outside these states are not currently eligible.
The state-specific page for each state lists the products available and the state’s licensed loan terms. Product availability varies by state and may include cash advance loans and online lines of credit for bad credit. The disclosure page for each state lists the specific disclosures required by state law.
Money Stash also screens every application against the federal Military Lending Act, which extends specific consumer protections to active-duty service members, their spouses, and dependents.
How to Apply for a Money Stash Loan Online
The Money Stash application is online. There is no branch to visit and no paperwork to mail.
Apply online. Applicants complete the online application. The form is online and mobile-friendly.
Approval review. Money Stash reviews each application for completeness, identity, income verification, and compliance with state law. Most applications receive an approval decision within minutes.
Review the loan agreement. Approved applicants receive a loan agreement that spells out the loan amount, finance charge, total of payments, payment schedule, and APR. The agreement is the legally binding document. Borrowers should read it in full before signing.
Funding. Once signed, Money Stash sends funds to the borrower’s bank account. Funding is as fast as the next business day for approved borrowers.
Basic requirements include an active checking account and verifiable regular income. A low credit score does not automatically disqualify an applicant. Each application is reviewed individually based on income, identity, and other factors.
What Does Money Lending Cost?
Small-dollar money lending costs more than traditional bank loans. There is no way around that, and no honest lender pretends otherwise. The trade-off is speed, access, and approval for borrowers who would not qualify at a bank.
Money Stash discloses the full cost of every loan in the loan agreement: loan amount, finance charge, total of payments, payment schedule, and APR. Because state laws and caps differ, exact costs vary by state. Money Stash loans also have no prepayment penalty, which lowers the total cost for borrowers who repay early. State-specific cost information appears on the disclosure pages provided with every approved loan agreement.
The total cost of a Money Stash loan is what is in the loan agreement. No hidden fees and no surprise charges added after the fact.
Money Lending FAQ
What is money lending?
Is Money Stash a licensed money lender?
What is the difference between a money lender and a broker?
How much can a borrower get from Money Stash?
Can a borrower with bad credit get a Money Stash loan?
What states does Money Stash operate in?
Does Money Stash check credit?
Are there prepayment penalties on a Money Stash loan?
What loan products does Money Stash offer?
Apply for a Money Stash Loan
Money Stash is a licensed online money lender serving Idaho, Missouri, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. Loans run $100 to $1,250. The application is online and most applications receive an approval decision within minutes.