Complete guide
Answers, tradeoffs and next steps
Use the sections below to evaluate fit, not to predict approval.
The state is the first filter, not the company name
CFPB advises consumers considering payday credit to check whether the lender is licensed to do business in their state. A company that is authorized in one state may not offer the same product in another, and a marketplace or broker may not be the creditor at all. CFPB_LICENSE
The page therefore never returns a single green ‘licensed’ badge without product and state context. It returns the source, entity name, scope and checked date so the user can reproduce the verification.
| Check | Why it matters | Required evidence |
|---|---|---|
| State regulator | Licensing is state-specific | Official regulator/registry |
| Legal entity | Brand names can obscure the creditor | Agreement + registry |
| Product scope | License/registration may not cover every credit product | Registry + state rule |
| Date | Statuses change | Recorded checked date |