Check Into Cash

Check Into Cash is a legitimate, state-licensed payday lender, but it is one of the most expensive ways to borrow. Use it only for a small emergency you can repay on your next payday, and only after you have ruled out the cheaper options listed below.

Quick verdict

Pros

• Licensed direct lender with more than 200 stores and 30+ years in business
• Same-day cash in store; online funding as soon as the next business day
• Several products: payday, installment, title loans and a line of credit
• Bad credit is not an automatic rejection

Cons

• Payday loan APRs can run into the hundreds of percent (one published Idaho example works out to about 652%)
• Most payday loans are due in full on your next payday, usually in 2 to 4 weeks
• Title loans put your car at risk if you can't repay
• Products, amounts and fees change from state to state
• Not accredited by the Better Business Bureau

Key facts

What is Check Into Cash?

Check Into Cash is a storefront and online lender of small, short-term loans. W. Allan Jones founded it in 1993 in Cleveland, Tennessee, as the first national payday chain. Today it has more than 200 stores in 15 states and is based in Carrollton, Texas. It is owned by CCF Holdings (Community Choice Financial), which became part of Nasdaq-listed Katapult Holdings in August 2026.

Check Into Cash loan products

Which products you can get depends on your state. Enter your ZIP code on checkintocash.com to see what is offered where you live.

Payday loans (cash advances)

You repay the loan plus a flat fee in one payment on your next payday. New customers are usually capped at about $750 or the state limit.

Installment loans

Larger loans repaid in several scheduled payments. Each payment is smaller, but you pay fees for longer, so the total cost can be higher.

Title loans

Your car is the collateral. You need a lien-free title and a photo ID, and the lender can repossess the car if you don't repay. Mostly offered in stores.

Flex line of credit

A revolving credit limit you draw from as needed. It stays open while you keep paying, which makes it easy to stay in debt for months.

Other services

Stores also cash checks, pay bills, sell prepaid cards and money orders, send Western Union transfers and prepare taxes, each with its own fee.

How much does a Check Into Cash loan cost?

A payday loan from Check Into Cash usually costs between $15 and $30 for every $100 you borrow, for two to four weeks. That sounds small, but as an annual percentage rate (APR) it is often 300% to 700% or more. The exact fee is set by state law, so check the rates and terms page for your state before you sign.

Example (Idaho, as published by Best Company):

The real danger is renewing. If you can't repay the $375 and roll the loan over four times, you pay $300 in fees and still owe the original $300. Late payments add more: Best Company reports a $20 late fee in its example.

How to read the APR: a credit card typically charges 20% to 30% APR, and many credit union personal loans charge less than 18%. A payday loan at 400% APR costs roughly 20 times more than a credit card for the same amount and time.

Check Into Cash requirements and how to apply

Check Into Cash does not publish a minimum credit score. To apply you need:

• A valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of regular income, such as a recent pay stub
• An open, active checking account and your most recent bank statement
• Your Social Security number or ITIN
• To be of legal age in your state and live in a state where the product is offered

The lender may run a credit check. Some borrowers report a hard inquiry followed by a denial, so don't assume approval is guaranteed.

How to apply

1. Go to checkintocash.com and enter your ZIP code to see which products your state allows, or visit a store.
2. Fill in your personal, job and bank details.
3. Read the loan agreement: check the fee, the APR, the due date and what happens if you pay late.
4. Get your money: cash the same day in a store, or a deposit as soon as the next business day online.
5. Repay by automatic bank debit, in a store or by debit card where allowed. If you need more time, ask about an extended payment plan before the due date.

What states is Check Into Cash available in?

Check Into Cash has stores in 15 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. It also lends online in some states without stores.

What you can borrow changes a lot by state. For example, California caps payday loans at a much lower amount than most states, and Oklahoma customers get installment loans rather than payday loans. Many states, including New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, don't allow this kind of lending at all. Always confirm with your ZIP code on the lender's site and on the store locator.

Is Check Into Cash legit? Reputation, complaints and regulation

Yes. Check Into Cash is a real, state-licensed lender that has operated since 1993, and its loans follow each state's payday rules. Being legitimate does not make it cheap, and consumer groups have long criticized the company's high fees.

Customer reviews

Store staff get frequent praise for being fast and friendly. The most common complaint is being denied after a hard credit pull. The company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Regulation

In November 2022, California's financial regulator (DFPI) signed a consent order with Check Into Cash of California. The regulator said that in 2021 the company had marketed bank-issued loans of $2,500 to $10,000 at rates above California's cap. Check Into Cash neither admitted nor denied this, stopped the program in December 2021, and agreed to a 14-month ban on similar loans. The order included no fine.

Cheaper alternatives to Check Into Cash

Try these first. Most cost far less than a payday loan, even with fair or bad credit.

Avoid tribal lenders that charge 400% to 800% APR. They are often outside your state's rate limits, so you have fewer protections if something goes wrong. If debt is already piling up, a nonprofit credit counselor (find one through the NFCC) can help for free or at low cost.

Check Into Cash FAQ

Is Check Into Cash a direct lender?

Yes. Check Into Cash lends its own money in its stores and online, so it is not a broker that sells your application to other lenders.

Does Check Into Cash check your credit?

It can. The company doesn't publish a minimum score, but some applicants report a hard credit inquiry. A hard pull can lower your score by a few points.

What happens if I can't repay on time?

You may pay a late fee, and the lender will try to debit your bank account, which can trigger overdraft fees. Call before the due date and ask about an extended payment plan, which some states require lenders to offer.