US-based Uprova is a tribal lending entity owned and operated by the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, California. It offers fast turnaround loans of $300 to $5,000 to bad credit borrowers. It states online that APRs fall between 34.5% and 35.99% and repayment terms range from 9 to 36 months.
But this is misleading. US tribal lenders aren’t subject to the same regulations as other American lenders and can charge rates hitting over 700% APR. If borrowers run into trouble repaying their loans, they can’t take their problems to a US court. Several Uprova customers complain about paying interest charges 3x higher than their original loan amount—and regret getting a loan with the company.
You can’t get a loan from Uprova in Canada. But there are cheaper ways to access cash if you live north of the border, even with bad credit. Our Canadian alternatives to Uprova include cash advance apps with 0% interest and other bad credit lenders with lower rates than Uprova.
If you live in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or New Brunswick, Cashco offers short- and long-term loans with flexible repayment options. Apply online, over the phone or in store, and receive funds within 24 hours of approval. Bad credit applicants and newcomers to Canada are welcomed to apply.
Fast bad credit loans
Flexible terms
No collateral required
No prepayment penalties
High rates
Not available in all provinces
Loan amount
$500 – $7,000
APR
20% – 48.99%
Term
6 - 60 months
Min. credit score
300
Fees
Up to 10% of your loan amount to set up your loan, NSF and late payment fees of $25.
Worried about getting stuck with a predatory loan? Step back and carefully compare your options for free with Loans Canada's search platform. Submit a single application, and get matched with suitable lenders from among Loans Canada's extensive partner network. Options are available for good and bad credit.
Loans for good and bad credit
Compare multiple lenders
APRs starting at 9.9%
Get funded in one to three business days
High rates for bad credit
Not a direct lender
Limited to Loans Canada's partner network
Loan amount
$300 – $50,000
APR
9.9% – 46.96%
Term
4 - 60 months
Min. credit score
300
Fees
No application, origination or brokerage fees
Origination fee
0
Turnaround time
Receive funds in as little as 24 hours.
Alternative for bad credit borrowers: Spring Financial
Have trouble getting approved for bank loans? Spring Financial serves borrowers with less-than-great credit. It's easy to apply online, and you won't pay fees if you decide to pay off your loan early. If approved, you'll receive funds within 24 hours.
High-risk applications are okay
Flexible loan amounts from $500 to $35,000
No early repayment fees
Interest rates of up to 46.99% for bad credit
You may be offered a credit builder loan (The Foundation loan) instead of a personal loan
LoansLoans.ca has a similar APR range to Uprova but shorter repayment terms, so you won't be saddled with long-term debt repayments. There's no credit check, and it's possible to get funded within 24 hours.
Bad credit is okay
Fast access to funds
Easy online application
No collateral required
No early repayment fees
Brokerage fee applies
Self-employed workers are not eligible
Requires a minimum monthly income of $1,200
Loan amount
$500 – $1,000
APR
28% – 32%
Term
3 - 12 months
Min. credit score
300
Fees
Late payment fee (2.66% per month), $45 NSF fee, broker fee
Borrow up to $250 interest free with a Nyble line of credit. Have low or no credit? Repaying your Nyble loan will help improve your credit score, and you can access your Equifax credit score and report through your account. There are no late fees, and funds are available instantly.
Get funds within 30 minutes
Build your credit history
No interest or late fees
Easy application process
Rewards program
Option to extend your payment deadline
May take up to 3 business days to get funds if you're not a member
Monthly membership fee ranging from $4.99 to $11.99
Amount may not be enough
Loan amount
$30 – $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
30 days, extendable
Fees
0% interest with optional fees
Origination fee
$11.99
Turnaround time
1-30 minutes with a paid membership or 1-3 business days with a free membership.
Need help covering an unexpected expense? KOHO Cover offers fast access to an interest-free cash advance of up to $250. KOHO doesn't require a credit check, and you can repay what you borrow any time. Note that you'll have to pay a small monthly subscription fee.
No credit check
No interest
Instant access to funds
No income required to qualify
Monthly subscription fee starting at $2
May have to pay a monthly KOHO plan fee
$250 may not be enough
Won't improve your credit score
Loan amount
$20 – $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Flexible
Fees
0% interest with a subscription fee starting at $2/month
Bree helps you cover unforeseen expenses and avoid NSF fees with an interest-free cash advance of up to $350. Apply quickly and easily online with no credit check. If you're willing to wait a few business days, funding is free. Otherwise, there's a fee for express transfers.
Easy to apply
No credit check required
No interest charges
Monthly membership fee
Extra fee for express funding
Small amount may not suit your needs
Loan amount
$20 – $350
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Next pay cycle (65 days max)
Fees
0% interest with a $2.99 monthly membership fee
Turnaround time
Receive funds within 5 minutes with express delivery (the fee is based on the advance amount) and up to 3 business days for standard delivery.
Compared to other bad credit lenders, Uprova comes with risks you need to be aware of. The lender can charge sky-high interest rates exceeding 700% APR.
Furthermore, Uprova is a tribal lender, which means borrowers don’t have the same legal protections or recourses as they would with other US lenders. Many Uprova borrowers in the US state that interest payments on their loans far exceed the original loan amount.
If you need a bad credit loan, there are other bad credit lenders on the Canadian market. In addition to 0% interest cash advance apps, lenders like Spring Financial and LoansLoans.ca cater to bad credit borrowers and cap rates well below Uprova’s highest rates, helping you avoid getting stuck in a cycle of high-interest debt.
We didn’t include payday and short-term installment loans as alternatives to Uprova, as these can also charge excessive interest rates.
Consider the following:
Depending on where you live, a typical $500 payday loan could come with $70+ in fees.
The average APR on a 14-day payday loan in Canada can reach over 360%.
While payday loans are designed for one-time emergencies, many borrowers use the money for recurring costs like utilities and bills.
For short-term borrowing, cash advance apps like the ones on our list are almost always cheaper than a payday loan, as there are no finance fees or interest charges on what you borrow.
Alternatives to cash advance apps
If you prefer not to use a cash advance app or don’t want to take out a loan, consider these other methods for accessing quick cash instead:
Personal loan. If you need more than a few hundred dollars, compare the best personal loan providers to find loans between $500 and $50,000. Same-day funding may even be available.
Auto title loan. If you own a fully paid off car, you could use it as collateral to secure a loan. Auto title loan providers don’t require top-tier credit, so it’s easier to qualify for funding than an unsecured loan. But you could lose your car if you fail to make repayments.
Credit card cash advance. Credit card cash advances are a convenient way to access quick cash, but it’s best to limit them as fees can run high. Compare the best credit cards.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) app. While not a source of cash, BNPL apps let you buy items you need today and pay off the bill later. Popular BNPL apps in Canada include Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and Sezzle.
Explore our payday loan alternatives guide for more short-term borrowing options to cover emergency expenses or tide you over until the next payday.
Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family. See full bio
Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Forbes Advisor, Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time. See full bio
Kat's expertise
Kat has written 12 Finder guides across topics including:
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