Advance America

Advance America: personal loans and cash advances with a branch network in the U.S.

Advance America is a licensed and regulated lender that offers loan options both online and in physical stores. According to its own presentation, since 1997 it has helped millions of families navigate financial challenges, and has provided more than 157 million loans over more than 28 years of operation.

Loan products

The company's catalog is organized into three main products:

• Installment loans: allow you to get money immediately and repay it in fixed monthly installments.
• Line of credit: the customer has a limit they can draw on as needed and only pays interest on what they actually use.
• Cash advances: quick access to cash to cover urgent expenses, with repayment expected within two to four weeks.

The website also mentions online loans, emergency loans, and personal loans, as well as Western Union services. In Texas, loans are arranged through an unaffiliated third-party lender, ACSO of Texas, LP, which operates as Advance America under the credit services organization (CSO) model. Title loans are offered through LoanCenter, an entity to which Advance America refers applications at no cost to the customer and without participating in the loan qualification.

Application process and funding timelines

The application can be started online or in-store. Approval is resolved in minutes and does not require a good credit history. Regarding disbursement times, the company states that online approvals completed before 10:30 AM ET Monday through Friday typically receive funds in the bank account the same day before 5 PM ET; approvals after that time are typically funded the morning of the next business day.

Coverage and presence

The company operates with more than 700 branches across 22 states and offers 24/7 online access. Among the states with confirmed presence are Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Product availability varies by state.

Licenses and regulatory framework

Advance America presents itself as a licensed and regulated lender. The website details specific licenses: in California it operates under the California Finance Lenders license from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, with a minimum loan amount of $2,510; in Delaware it holds a license from the State Bank Commissioner as a Licensed Lender (numbers 6996, 4472, 4474, 6971, 6076, 7400, 4473, and 010431); in Rhode Island it is registered as a Licensed Check Casher; and in Ohio loans are offered by Advance America Cash Advance Centers of Ohio, Inc., license ST. 760166.000, with its main office at 322 Rhett St., Greenville, SC 29601.

Ratings and stated commitment

The company shows a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 131,087 reviews, plus more than 200,000 reviews on Google. In its presentation, it highlights cost transparency—no hidden fees—, evaluating the applicant's situation beyond their credit score, and judgment-free service. It also notes that it participates in local events and offers paid volunteer time to its staff.