High-Cost Credit

Fintech & Disguised Credit

New forms of credit can pose new problems and old ones, often evading consumer protections. Buy now pay later credit, earned wage advances and other cash advance apps, and other new forms of credit can pose a number of risks. Rent-to-own (RTO) and lease-to-own sales may be exempt from or violate lending laws. New underwriting methods also impact the safety of credit. NCLC works to ensure that new and evasive forms of credit have strong consumer protections.

States Can Protect Buy Now, Pay Later Borrowers

February 12, 2026

New York BNPL Law Creates a Blueprint for Protecting Shoppers Nationwide

Read More about: States Can Protect Buy Now, Pay Later Borrowers
February 10, 2026
May 8, 2025

Recent

View All for Recent
Letter on Earned Wage Access Consumer Protections Act

February 24, 2026

New Predatory 100% APR Bank Seeks Trump Administration’s Approval

February 23, 2026

Comments to OCC on the Application to Charter Enova Interim Bank & Acquire Grasshopper Bank

February 20, 2026

MarketWatch: These apps offer quick cash, but some users say they’re trapped in debt. This loophole is their escape hatch.

February 12, 2026

Coalition Letter in Support of the Predatory Lending Elimination Act

February 11, 2026

Broad Coalition Supports New Senate Bill to Cap Interest Rates for Loans

February 11, 2026

The Affordability Problem of Earned Wage Payday Loans

February 10, 2026

Earned Wage Payday Loans Compound the Affordability Problem

February 10, 2026

States Can Protect Buy Now, Pay Later Borrowers

February 9, 2026

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Letter on Earned Wage Access Consumer Protections Act

February 24, 2026

Comments to OCC on the Application to Charter Enova Interim Bank & Acquire Grasshopper Bank

February 20, 2026

Coalition Letter in Support of the Predatory Lending Elimination Act

February 11, 2026

Comment to DC on Earned Wage Access

January 30, 2026

Coalition Letter Opposing Earned Wage Payday Loan Exemption from TILA

November 20, 2025

Buy Now Pay Later Comments to NY Dept of Financial Services

September 12, 2025

NCLC Comment to HUD on Buy Now Pay Later Products

August 25, 2025

Letter Opposing Connecticut S 1396 Earned Wage Advances

May 8, 2025

Letter Urging Veto of MD HB 1294, Earned Wage Advance

April 11, 2025

Reports

View All for Reports
Picking Workers’ Pockets: Unfair, Deceptive and Abusive Practices by Earned Wage Payday Lenders

January 12, 2026

Fintech and Consumer Protection: A Snapshot

March 1, 2019

The Rent-to-Own Racket: Using Criminal Courts to Coerce Payments from Vulnerable Families

February 5, 2019

Paper Statements: An Important Consumer Protection

March 1, 2016

Issue Briefs

View All for Issue Briefs
The Affordability Problem of Earned Wage Payday Loans

February 10, 2026

States Can Protect Buy Now, Pay Later Borrowers

February 9, 2026

Selected Government Enforcement Actions Against Earned Wage Payday Lenders

January 8, 2026

What Rights Do Buy Now, Pay Later Purchasers Have?

June 26, 2025

MoneyLion’s Costly “0% APR” “Earned Wage” Payday Loans

May 22, 2025

Risks and Advice for Buy Now, Pay Later Borrowers

May 19, 2025

DailyPay Extracts Hundreds of Dollars From Low-Wage Workers’ Pay

May 8, 2025

The Tricks Cash Advance Apps Use to Coerce Borrowers to “Tip”

April 23, 2025

Comparing APRs on Small Loan Alternatives

January 7, 2025

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Written Testimony in Support of Maryland Earned Wage Revisions

January 29, 2026

Statement for the Record for Hearing on Fintech Innovations

January 13, 2026

Testimony Opposing Maryland HB 1294 Earned Wage Access

March 21, 2025

Testimony Before Maryland Senate on Amended HB 246: Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization

March 26, 2024

Testimony Opposing Maryland HB 1425/SB 998 Earned Wage Access

March 1, 2024

Testimony in Support of Hawaii SB 2664 on Earned Wage Advances

February 14, 2024

Testimony of Carla Sanchez-Adams on “Examining Scams and Fraud in the Banking System and Their Impact on Consumers”

February 1, 2024

Testimony in Support of Maryland HB 246

January 23, 2024

Testimony on Vermont H.87 Regarding Earned Wage Access Service Providers

March 13, 2023

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
New Predatory 100% APR Bank Seeks Trump Administration’s Approval

February 23, 2026

MarketWatch: These apps offer quick cash, but some users say they’re trapped in debt. This loophole is their escape hatch.

February 12, 2026

Broad Coalition Supports New Senate Bill to Cap Interest Rates for Loans

February 11, 2026

Earned Wage Payday Loans Compound the Affordability Problem

February 10, 2026

Banks, Credit Unions and Consumer Groups Support ‘Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act’

January 29, 2026

Earned Wage Payday Lenders Are Picking Workers’ Pockets

January 12, 2026

Earned Wage Payday Loans are Loans, Despite CFPB’s Claim

December 22, 2025

Holiday Shoppers Beware! Dangers Lurk in Buy Now, Pay Later and Deferred Interest Credit Card Offers

November 24, 2025

Proposed Law Would Supercharge Predatory ‘Earned Wage’ Payday Lending

November 20, 2025

Legislation

View All for Legislation
Letter on Earned Wage Access Consumer Protections Act

February 24, 2026

Written Testimony in Support of Maryland Earned Wage Revisions

January 29, 2026

Coalition Letter Opposing Earned Wage Payday Loan Exemption from TILA

November 20, 2025

Letter Opposing Connecticut S 1396 Earned Wage Advances

May 8, 2025

Letter Urging Veto of MD HB 1294, Earned Wage Advance

April 11, 2025

Testimony Opposing Maryland HB 1294 Earned Wage Access

March 21, 2025

Letter Opposing H.R. 7428 (Steil), Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act

April 16, 2024

Opposition to H.R. 7440 (McHenry) Financial Services Innovation Act of 2023

April 16, 2024

Testimony Before Maryland Senate on Amended HB 246: Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization

March 26, 2024

From the NCLC Digital Library

Consumer Credit Regulation

Innovative thinking and precise authority on predatory lending and other consumer credit, including analysis on other players in consumer accounts and payment systems.

Read Chapter One

Support NCLC

Please support NCLC's work to advance consumer rights and economic justice with a tax-deductible contribution today!

Donate