Payday loans are not legal in the state of Connecticut. That isn’t to say there are no options for cash advances. You just won’t be able to get a payday loan in the traditional, short term loan market.
On average, lenders who have worked their way around the payday lending system will advance you 25% of your monthly income. Although these advances aren’t referred to as “payday loans,” you can still technically get a short-term loan in Connecticut.
Options For Payday Loans in Connecticut
Instead of a payday loan, you might be able to get a loan from a tribal lender. A tribal lender is able to get around payday loan regulations because they’re considered protected sovereign territory. In other words, they don’t have the regular restrictions that Connecticut does because they’re operated by a Native American community.
In Connecticut, you have two options for tribal installment loans: Plain Green and Cash Advance Now.
| Tribal Lender | Maximum Loan Amount | Average APR |
| Plain Green | $1,000 | 300%+ |
| Cash Advance Now | $1,500 | 725%+ |
As you can see in the table above, the APRs are extremely high, and since they’re not regulated, they can charge you any fee amount that they choose.
Plain Green
To be eligible for a loan from Plain Green, you have to meet the following requirements:
- Your income must be at least $1,000 a month
- You need to be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid social security number
First-time borrowers are eligible for a loan between $500 and $1,000 while repeat borrowers may take up to $3,000. It takes approximately 2 days for the approval process, and you have anywhere between 10 and 26 months to repay the loan.
Cash Advance Now
Cash Advance Now has similar eligibility requirements to Plain Green:
- Employed with at least a $1,000 monthly income
- United States citizen
- At least 18 years old
If you borrow from Cash Advance Now, you have one month to repay the loan. Lenders like Cash Advance Now prey on people in desperate situations. Borrowing from this lender can result in paying back double what you borrowed!
Payday Loan Alternatives in Connecticut
If you still can’t wait until payday and need the cash advance, consider options from MoneyLion, an online platform that offers financial and investment services. Two of their most popular services are Instacash and Credit Builder Loans.
Instacash
With Instacash, you can borrow up to $250 at a time, it has a 0% APR, and it’s all done from the convenience of your phone. Compared to the high-interest, unregulated options that tribal lenders offer, you’ll pay little to nothing to borrow from Instacash.
| Loan Source | Loan Amount | APR | Fees | Repayment Amount |
| Plain Green | $500* | 438% | $1,263 | $1,763 |
| Cash Advance Now | $300** | 725% | $759.04 | $1,059 |
| Instacash | Up to $250 | 0% | $0 – $3.99 | $250 – $253.99 |
*The minimum loan from Plain Green is $500
** The minimum loan amount from Cash Advance Now is $300
Credit Builder Loans
Another cash advance alternative brought to you by MoneyLion is a Credit Builder Loan. It’s a same-day loan that doesn’t require a credit check. It benefits you in two ways:
- Cash up to $1,000 when you need it
- Helps repair your credit
The payments you make toward your Credit Builder Loan are reported to the three credit major bureaus. After making timely, minimum payments you could see your credit score improve within 60 days – more than half our members raised their score by up to 27 in that time!
All you need to get started is a MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus membership which costs $19.99 and comes with a ton of valuable, high-quality tools and services that will be at your disposal, including access to Instacash too!.
Final Thoughts on Cash Advances in CT
Since traditional payday loans aren’t an option and tribal lenders have a sky-high APR, MoneyLion’s cash advance options can be a better option based on fees and credit aspects alone.
Borrow responsibly and consider your options before accepting any cash advance or loan. Check out MoneyLion’s options and additional benefits and get signed up for an account today!
