Federal law gives you the right to get a free report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can request all three of your reports at once, or you can space them out over the course of the year. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only official site to get your free annual credit reports. This right is guaranteed by Federal law. You can verify that AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site by visiting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.

Tip: Be cautious of websites that claim to offer free credit reports. Some of these websites will only give you a free report if you buy other products or services. Other websites give you a free report and then bill you for services you have to cancel. To get the free credit report authorized by Federal law, go to AnnualCreditReport.com

The most widely used credit scores are FICO Scores. You can think of a FICO Score as a summary of your credit report. It measures how long you’ve had credit, how much credit you have, how much of your available credit is being used, and if you’ve paid on time. 

FICO Scores:

• Are based solely on information in consumer credit reports maintained at the consumer reporting agencies.
• Are available to lenders from all three major US consumer reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).
• Have a 300–850 score range—the higher the score, the lower the risk.

• Payment history—approximately 35%

Have you paid your credit accounts on time? Late payments, collections and other negative items can hurt your FICO Score, while a solid record of on-time payments helps your score.

• How much you owe—approximately 30%

FICO Scores look at the amounts you owe on all your accounts, the number of accounts with balances and how much of your available credit you are using.

• Length of credit history—approximately 15%

A longer credit history will generally increase your score. However, you can get a good score with a short credit history if the rest of your credit report shows responsible credit management.

• New credit—approximately 10% 

If you have recently applied for or opened new credit accounts, your credit score will weigh this fact against the rest of your credit history. Seeking or opening multiple accounts in a short period of time can be considered more risky and have a negative impact on your score

• Other factors—approximately 10%

Score Several minor factors also can influence your score. For example, having a mix of credit types on your credit report—credit cards, installment loans and personal lines of credit—can add slightly to your score

To apply, you must be at least 18 years old and reside in California. Applicants must also be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa holder.

Eligibility is based on a review of several factors, including:

• Credit history and overall credit profile
• Current income and ability to repay
• Recent payment history and existing obligations
• Verification of identity and residency

In general, applicants should have an established credit history and be able to provide documentation showing current income or employment.

If you are unsure about your credit profile, you may wish to review your credit report before applying. Free annual credit reports are available through AnnualCreditReport.com.

Please note that meeting general eligibility guidelines does not guarantee approval, and all applications remain subject to review and current underwriting requirements.

The Economic Justice Fund verifies all requirements by checking information on your credit reports.  We perform a soft credit inquiry when you complete the pre-qualification form. This won’t impact your credit score. Soft credit inquiries do not appear on your credit report and do not affect your credit score. We may perform a hard credit inquiry only after you accept a loan offer.

The funds from our loans are commonly used for debt consolidation, credit card consolidation, credit building, emergency or unexpected expenses, moving costs, home repairs or improvements, and medical or dental expenses.

Applications are reviewed based on overall credit history and current financial profile. Factors that may be considered include payment history, existing debt obligations, recent credit activity, and overall ability to repay.

If you are unsure about your credit history, you may wish to review your credit report before applying. Free annual credit reports are available through AnnualCreditReport.com.

You pay no fees. There are no application fees, no origination fees, no servicing fees, and no prepayment fees. There are no hidden fees!

Loan funds are transferred by ACH and deposited on the next business day if the loan agreement is completed before 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. If the loan agreement is completed after 5 p.m. PT, on a weekend, or on a holiday, the funds will be transferred on the following business day.

Our prequalification decisions are provided immediately, and full applications are typically approved the same business day.

Our loan application process is quick and easy. You can prequalify in less than a minute and complete the online application form in just a few minutes. During the application process, you may need to upload documents to provide proof of income (such as recent paychecks) and bank account information.

There are no prepayment penalties or payoff fees. You can always pay your loan off early with no fees.

We offer flexible loan terms ranging from 2 – 6 years for monthly payments that fit your budget with an affordable repayment option.

We provide low, fixed interest rates for all loans. Interest rates and APRs vary based on credit profile, income, verification, loan structure, and applicable law. Final loan terms are disclosed during the application and approval process.

APR shows the total cost of a loan by including the interest rate and all fees. APR represents an accurate cost of borrowing and can be used to compare annual loan costs across different loan options. Since the Economic Justice Fund charges no fees, the APR will always match your low interest rate on the loan.