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Big Picture Loans

Big Picture Loans isn't available on Finder right now.

Min. Amount
$200
Max. Amount
$5,000
Turnaround time
As soon as the next business day

Our verdict

Easy approval and fast funding can’t make up for rates as high as 699%.

Big Picture Loans is a tribal lender that offers installment loans up to $5,000. There’s no minimum credit score to apply, other requirements to qualify are lenient and you could see funding as soon as the next business day. But rates range from 160% to 699%, and the best rate for first-time borrowers is 250%. It was also involved in a class action lawsuit that accused the company of charging interest rates that violate state and federal laws. The company didn’t admit any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $65 million to settle the lawsuit.

Best for: Borrowers who need an emergency loan, have no other option and can pay it back right away.

Pros

  • Loans up to $5,000
  • No minimum credit score requirement
  • Next-day funding possible

Cons

  • Rates up to 699%
  • Involved in a class action lawsuit
  • Mixed customer reviews

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question

Is Big Picture Loans legit?

It depends on what you consider legit. Does Big Picture offer installment loans that are easy to qualify for? Yes. Does it charge rates up to almost 700%? Also yes. So, while Big Picture Loans isn’t a scam per say, its loan rates are high and it targets borrowers with few to no other options. Plus, it was involved in a class action lawsuit over its high rates and settled by paying $65 million.

Plenty of other legitimate loans like Big Picture Loans specialize in loans for borrowers with bad credit and don’t charge rates this high.

How Big Picture Loans compares to other lenders

Product Finder Score Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
Finder score
Up to $500
Instant, once qualified
Active Varo Bank Account with a positive balance and at least $800 in total qualifying direct deposits in the current or previous month. Additional quals apply.
Varo Advance (VA) is a small dollar line of credit. Initial limits range from $20-$250. Work your way up to $500 over time. Fees range from $1.60 - $40 based on loan amount.
Finder score
Up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee
At least 18 and a US resident, Valid Social Security number, At least 60 days of banking history, Proof of consistent income, Positive bank balance, Get paid by direct deposit.
Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $750 between paydays. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.
Finder score
$50 to $750
Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee
Among other factors, you must receive a monthly total of $500 or more in Eligible Payroll Deposits into your Current Account.
Get up to $750 before payday, once you qualify. Paycheck Advance is an earned wage access service and is not a loan or credit product. Subject to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions.
OppLoans logo
Finder score
$500 to $5,000
As soon as the same business day
+18 years old, Receive paychecks through direct deposit, $1,500 minimum monthly income, Live in eligible state
Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.
Cleo logo
Finder score
Up to $250
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Not stated
Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.
Chime logo
Finder score
Up to $500
Within 24 hours or $2 for instant transfers
Chime checking account, direct deposits of $200+ and only available in some states
Access up to $500 of your pay before payday fee-free within 24 hours. See Chime terms and conditions.
CreditNinja logo
Finder score
$300 to $5,000
1 to 2 business days
Checking account at least 60 days old, regular income through direct deposit, resident of eligible state, age of majority in your state
Fast online funding up to $5K, but you won't know about rates and terms until after you apply.
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

Where Big Picture Loans falls short

The worst thing about this company is the incredibly high rates. Some borrowers report having to repay four or five times the amount they originally borrowed. The problem is that most people who resort to a lender like this are already having serious financial troubles and feel they have no choice but to accept these loan terms to get their car fixed or pay the rent. As a result, they find themselves much deeper in debt very quickly.

Beware of high costs

Tribal lenders aren’t required to follow any state or federal usury laws. That means you may be on the hook for paying double or triple — or more — the amount you borrow. Always read your loan contract carefully and consider alternatives or state-based lenders before you borrow. If you’ve landed on this lender for its easy eligibility requirements, you may try loans like Big Picture Loans, but better trusted and with better rates.

What makes Big Picture Loans shine?

Pretty much the only thing positive to say about the company is that it’s transparent about rates. It clearly states that APRs range from 160% to 699%, and rates for new borrowers start at 250%. It even gives a handy example of a $1,000 loan for 12 months at 395%, which results in a total repayment of $4,108.15.

You’re better off considering a payday loan or other alternatives, such as cash advance apps or other less expensive installment loans. All these options cater to borrowers with bad credit, and although they’re not risk-free, they’re far less costly than Big Picture Loans and can help in an emergency.

Big Picture Loans details

Minimum credit score/credit rangeNo minimum stated
APR160% to 699%
Loan amount$200 to $5,000
TermsUp to 12 months
Approval turnaroundAs soon as the next business day
AvailabilityNot available in all states
FeesLate fees
NSF penalties
Other feesUnknown

Best Picture Loans contact info

Phone number800-584-4880
Customer service hoursPhone support: 24/7
Email correspondence:
Monday to Thursday: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Emailsupport@bigpictureloans.com
X, formerly Twitter@BigPicLoans
FacebookBig Picture Loans

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How to qualify for Big Picture Loans

These are the only requirements Big Picture Loans lists on its website:

  • A bank account in good standing
  • Reachable by phone
  • Valid email address
  • 18 and a US resident

How to apply

You can apply for a loan through the company’s website.

  1. Fill out the online application.
  2. Wait for a customer service representative to call and verify your information.
  3. Review and sign your loan agreement.
  4. Receive funding typically on the next business day.

Big Picture Loans says it performs credit checks on all loan applicants.

Big Picture Loans reviews and complaints

BBB accredited No
BBB rating A+
BBB customer reviews 1.85 out of 5 stars, based on 13 customer reviews
BBB customer complaints 48 customer complaints
Trustpilot Score 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on 21 customer reviews
Customer reviews verified as of 01 April 2025

Reviewers on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) complain about ridiculously high APRs, poor customer service and regret taking out a loan with the company. One person used their review to alert potential borrowers about a class action lawsuit against Big Picture Loans. There was only one positive review that sounded scripted.

Surprisingly, Big Picture Loans has a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. Some reviewers say the company is fast and convenient, with an easy application process and quick approval. Others complain of the high rates or difficulty getting verified and approved. Many bad reviews warn other consumers against using this company.

What do people on Reddit say?

One person on Reddit was asking for advice about a loan his elderly mother took out with Big Picture Loans, which was charging around 700% interest. Suggestions included paying the whole thing back immediately or to stop making payments altogether. Several people were shocked at the rates and questioned whether that was even legal. A few people explained that tribal lenders can get around state laws that keep interest rates low by being associated with a sovereign nation that doesn’t have to follow those laws.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for multiple loans with Big Picture Loans?

No. You can only have one loan at a time. Once you’ve repaid your loan, you can log in to your account and reapply using the same email address. Big Picture Loans claims to offer lower rates to returning borrowers.

How do I know if I’m approved for a loan?

After your information is verified, Big Picture Loans says it notifies you by email with its final decision.

Do lending laws of the state I reside in apply to Big Picture Loans?

No. Only the laws of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians govern your loan agreement. Sovereign Indian Tribes don’t have to adhere to state laws in the absence of congressional authorization.

Your reviews

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Lacey Finder

Writer

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Denise

December 13, 2018

If approved on Friday mornin, will my loan be available on Saturday or Monday?


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nikkiangco

December 17, 2018

Hi Denise,


Thanks for getting in touch! The release of funds will depend on Big Picture Loans and will be disclosed when you are approved. Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.


Best,

Nikki


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Jennifer

September 25, 2018

If your maximum loan amount is $1500.00, why did I get preapproved for up to $3000.00?


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Jhezelyn Finder

September 25, 2018

Hello Jennifer,


Thank you for your comment.


Please note that pre-approved loan means that a lender has independently determined that you meet their requirements for a credit opportunity through a soft inquiry credit check. Pre-approved offers state that you may qualify for a certain amount. This can also mean that you may not qualify for the loan or credit card once your credit reports are reviewed. Hence, pre-approval still changes when a formal application is submitted.


Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.


Regards,

Jhezelyn


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Helen Conroy

March 28, 2018

How much would the interest be on a $1200 loan


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Joshua Finder

March 28, 2018

Hi Helen,


Thanks for getting in touch with finder.


I may not be able to give you the exact interest rate for a $1,200 loan. The reason is that the interest rate will depend on how often your payments are scheduled and the duration of the loan as well as your current financial situation. The loan contract you receive lists all applicable charges so be sure to review these carefully before you sign.


If you want to get a quote, you might want to get in touch directly with the lender.


I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.


Have a wonderful day!


Cheers,

Joshua


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Fallon

January 24, 2018

How long do you have to pay the loan back?


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Rench Finder

January 31, 2018

Hi Fallon,


Thanks for your inquiry.


With Big Picture Loans, you are offered with installment loans which you repay over time with a set number of scheduled payments. Though you can also pay off your installment loan early and no penalties charged to you when you do this. Your scheduled payments is outlined in your contract.


Meantime, in the Big Picture Loans website, you can find and use their personal loan calculator if you like to get an idea on what would be your repayment schedule will look like.


Hope this information helped.


Best regards,

Rench


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Kathyrn

January 11, 2018

I was,applying for loan and at the bottom it asked for my bank information like routing number is that lagit


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Arnold

January 11, 2018

Hi Kathryn,


Thanks for your inquiry


That information is required by Big Picture loans so that you may be able to receive your approved funds in your bank account electronically. Please note that to qualify, you have to meet basic eligibility criteria. Please check them out before applying.


Hope this information helps


Cheers,

Arnold


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