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Requirements · 5 things, none of them a score

If you're paid,
you can apply.

A FrontPay loan asks for five things, and a credit score isn't one of them. Regular income of any kind, a checking account it lands in, a phone, an email and a state where our lenders operate. Everything else on this page is about what you don't need.

Check if you qualify, soft check Compared with cash advance apps

The list. The other list.

5You need

To be 18 or older and a U.S. residentWith a U.S. address and a Social Security or ITIN number. Citizenship isn't required.
Regular income, any kindWages, gig, benefits, pension, self-employment. Typically $1,000+ a month, verified from your bank history, not a pay stub.
An active checking account in your nameWhere the money lands and payments pull from. Online banks like Chime work; prepaid cards don't.
A phone number and emailFor the offer, the contract and the lender's reminders. You'll confirm both.
To live in a state where our lenders operateAll 50 states and DC for installment and personal loans; short-term loans in 28. Check yours

0You don't need

A minimum credit scoreThere isn't one. A soft inquiry shows lenders your file; approval rests on income and bank history. Bad credit loans
Electronic direct depositThe rule that stops most cash advance apps. Paper checks and cash deposits are fine here. Details
Documents, for most peopleIncome and bank history verify electronically when you link your account. A lender may ask for a pay stub only if the check is inconclusive.
Collateral, a co-signer or a credit cardLoans are unsecured. Nothing is held against your car, your title or anyone else's name.
A membership or any money up front$0 to apply, see offers or decline. The full fee list

What counts as income.

Regular is the word that matters. Lenders read 90 days of deposits; how the money arrives is secondary.

Wages & salary

Weekly, biweekly or monthly. Direct deposit or a paper check you deposit yourself.

Counts
Gig & platform pay

Rideshare, delivery, freelance platforms. Payout history in your account is the proof. More

Counts
Benefits

Social Security, SSI, SSDI, VA, unemployment, child support, alimony. More

Counts
Pension & retirement

Pension, annuity, regular IRA or 401(k) distributions.

Counts
Self-employment

Invoices, cash deposits, business-to-personal transfers, if they recur.

Counts
One-off money

A tax refund, a gift, a sale. Fine to have, but it isn't income to a lender.

Doesn't count
Someone else's income

A spouse's or parent's pay in their account. The account and the income need to be yours.

Doesn't count
Expected income

A job that starts next month or an invoice that hasn't paid yet. Apply once it's landed.

Not yet

Our rules next to
a cash advance app's.

The $100 FrontPay cash advance at joinfrontpay.com (a separate company) and most apps like it qualify people on a narrow set of rules. Here they are, side by side with ours. Checked October 2026.

RuleFrontPay loan$100 FrontPay cash advanceTypical cash advance app
Direct depositNot requiredRequired: 2–3 deposits of $400+Required, often $500+/mo
Paper checks / cashFineDon't qualifyUsually don't qualify
Gig / benefits incomeCountsOnly if direct-depositedVaries; often excluded
Credit scoreNo minimum, soft checkNo checkNo check
Bank accountAny checking, incl. ChimeSupported banks onlySupported banks only
MembershipNone$9.99 / month$0–$14.99 / month
Amount if approved$200–$5,000$15–$100, often $15–$40 at first$25–$500

joinfrontpay.com figures from its own site, October 2026. FrontPay USA is not affiliated with it. How the $100 advance works · Cash advance apps vs a loan

Edge cases, answered.

Active bankruptcy

Not eligible until discharged. After discharge, you can apply; many lenders fund within a year of it with steady income.

Active-duty military

Eligible. The Military Lending Act caps your APR at 36% and lenders apply it automatically when they identify you.

Already have a loan with us

One loan at a time with each lender. Pay it down and reapply; some lenders offer a second once the first is half repaid.

Joint account

Fine, as long as your name is on it and your income lands there.

Recently moved states

Use your current address; your ID can lag. The lender may ask for a utility bill if they don't match.

Thin file, no credit at all

Not a problem. No score is the same as a low score for approval purposes: income and bank history carry it.

Eligibility questions

More in the full FAQ.

I'm self-employed. What counts as income?
Deposits. Lenders look at 90 days of your business or personal checking account for regular money coming in. Invoices paid monthly, platform payouts weekly, cash deposits you make yourself: all of it counts if it's regular. No tax returns for most applicants. Gig and self-employed income
I'm on SSI, SSDI or a pension. Can I apply?
Yes. Benefits and pensions are regular income and lenders treat them as such. Some lenders set a lower maximum for benefit-only income; the offer reflects it. Loans on SSI and SSDI
Do I need a bank account?
Yes, an active checking account in your name: it's how you're funded and how payments are collected. Savings-only, prepaid cards and most cash-management apps don't work. Chime and similar online checking accounts do. Chime users
What if I just opened my account?
Most lenders want to see at least 60–90 days of history. If your account is newer than that, the electronic check may come back inconclusive and a lender may ask for statements from the previous account, or you may be offered a smaller amount.
Does a recent overdraft disqualify me?
One or two don't. A pattern of returned payments in the last 30 days usually does, because it suggests the loan payment would bounce too. Wait a cycle and reapply; the soft check costs nothing.
I'm not a citizen. Can I apply?
You need to be a U.S. resident with a U.S. address, a U.S. checking account and a Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Citizenship isn't required; permanent residents and many visa holders qualify.

Keep reading.

How it worksWhere each requirement is checkedBad credit loansNo minimum score, in practiceLoans by stateWhere short-term loans are and aren't offeredLoans without direct depositPaper checks, cash, gig payouts
$200–$5,000Soft check · $0 to apply
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