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Tag: Loans

  • 10 Places You Can Get a Loan In 2023

    10 Places You Can Get a Loan In 2023

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    As I write this, commercial interest rates — the rate businesses pay for working capital, equipment and property loans — have more than doubled over this past year. My clients are now seeing commercial rates exceed 10% — that’s going to be a big challenge for those that rely on debt to fund their operations and expansion, let alone those entrepreneurs looking to startup and grow their businesses.

    The financing environment will be tough in 2023. Less businesses will get approved for loans as the financial services industry contracts in response to continued high interest, inflation and a slowing economy. But it’s not a catastrophe. There will be money out there if you’re willing to pay for it. Here are your best choices to consider.

    Related: 5 Best and Fast Small-Business Loans (Some of Which You’ve Never Heard of)

    Big bank loans

    For starters, if you don’t need a loan, then you should definitely go to a traditional bank. I’m kidding, of course. But traditional banks — and you know the names — are the most risk-averse of all lenders. They are going to lend money to businesses that have collateral, history, solid credit and the ability to pay the loans back almost without question. Interest rates and terms, assuming you meet those requirements, will always be the most favorable compared to other financing options.

    Small bank loans

    Besides the big banks, there are independent and community banks and credit unions all of which offer different types of loan arrangements and may be more amenable to dealing with a smaller company that isn’t as qualified to get a loan from a big bank. But still, these banks, though a little more entrepreneurial, tend to also be very risk averse and will require significant due diligence.

    SBA Loans

    The best option in 2023 is to seek out a loan from a lender certified by the Small Business Administration. Those loans (called Section 7a or 504) can be offered at market or slightly above market interest rates. Because most of the amounts are guaranteed by the federal government, the banks offering these loans can do so to smaller companies with less of a financial history or collateral available and are less at risk. But it’s still not a slam dunk and you’ll have plenty of hoops to jump through.

    Related: How to Navigate the Volatile Business-Funding Environment

    Online lenders

    If you’re looking for a very short-term loan to satisfy an immediate financing need (a big inventory purchase, a down payment on a lease, a deposit on a new piece of equipment) you can try an online banker like Kabbage, Fundbox and OnDeck. These companies charge extremely high annual interest rates, but no sane business person would borrow from them for the long term. The upside is that these services provide funds very quickly — in some cases within 24 to 48 hours — and (as opposed to many banks) are more technology-oriented to gather data, monitor their loans and communicate issues.

    Merchant advances

    If you’re in the retail world then you might want to consider a merchant advance, which are short-term loans provided by popular payment services like Square, PayPal and QuickBooks Merchant Services. Your loan qualifications are determined by your actual sales volume to which these payment services are privy because, well, they’re already handling your cash. Like online lenders, interest rates are much higher than what traditional banks offer but the funds are quickly deposited in your account and payback is done automatically through the sales transactions you record with the service.

    SSBCI

    If you’re a very small business or a minority business owner or someone located in a lower-income part of the world then you should definitely look into the State Small Business Credit Imitative. Thanks to prior pandemic-related legislation, $10 billion is being distributed this year and next by the Treasury Department to states (based on a number of factors) that will then be allocated to local nonprofits and other organizations that support small and minority-owned businesses. You can Google your state and the State Small Business Credit initiative to find out what organizations are getting this funding and then apply directly to those organizations. Grants and equity investments are also available through this program.

    Micro loans

    For startups and very small businesses, you can also look for microloans offered by nonprofit organizations like Kiva, for example. These amounts are — by definition — very small but organizations like this one also provide good consulting services and can connect you to other places that offer finances for companies at your early stage.

    Private lenders

    Although these companies don’t charge as much interest as some of the short-term online lenders mentioned previously, interest rates are still higher but so are approval rates. Collateral — oftentimes receivables (for companies that “factor these amounts) and inventory — will be required. The best place to find these lenders (and other more traditional forms of financing) are platforms like Lendio and Fundera which offer a “marketplace” of different vehicles provided by their partners and an easy way to apply for them all.

    Credit cards

    What about credit card financing? You know you’ll pay a hefty interest rate but don’t knock it entirely — it may be a bad choice unless it’s for very short-term needs. Just make sure you’re not building your business around credit card debt because as interest rates continue to rise, so will credit card rates.

    Family and friends

    Finally, there are friends and family. A lot’s been written on this so I don’t have to tell you of the potential perils. You already know them. But getting a loan from a reasonable friend or family member can provide you with a reasonable rate of interest and flexibility. It all depends on the people involved.

    The takeaway is that 2023 will be a tough year for financing. But not impossible. Just make sure you can afford it. And give yourself the flexibility to renegotiate in the future when rates do eventually come down.

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    Gene Marks

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  • Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Student Loans: What to Borrow?

    Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Student Loans: What to Borrow?

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    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered legal or financial advice. You should consult with an attorney or other financial professional to determine what may be best for your individual needs.

    A college education in the U.S. might be expensive, but it’s still accessible to many American students thanks to federal student loans. The only problem: It can be tough to know which student loans to choose from, mainly subsidized vs. unsubsidized student loans.

    If you’re unsure what to borrow or the difference between these student loan types, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for more information about subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.

    What are subsidized student loans?

    A subsidized student loan, also called a direct subsidized loan, is a federal student loan available to undergraduate students if they show sufficient financial need.

    Being subsidized means interest rates are temporarily paid for or halted by the government, and are generally much lower than unsubsidized loans. This allows students to focus on education without worrying about interest accruing on them for some of their terms.

    More specifically, the US Department of Education pays all of the interest on subsidized student loans so long as the borrower is enrolled at least half-time in school. This arrangement continues for six months after graduation and during other applicable deferment periods.

    What are unsubsidized student loans?

    An unsubsidized student loan is also a kind of federal student loan. But unlike subsidized loans, the interest rates for unsubsidized loans begin accruing as soon as money is distributed to a borrower’s school.

    However, this doesn’t mean that students need to pay the interest right off the bat. Students can choose not to pay the interest while in school and throughout a six-month grace period after graduation. However, unpaid interest accumulates during this time and constantly adds to the borrower’s total balance.

    Main differences between subsidized and unsubsidized student loans

    To recap: Subsidized student loans’ interest is paid for by the government while students are in school and for six months after graduation.

    The government does not pay for unsubsidized student loans’ interest at any point, so it consistently accumulates. Graduate students only have eligibility for unsubsidized loans, and only in some cases.

    However, there are many differences between subsidized and unsubsidized student loans aside from the above basic breakdown. Here’s a closer look at those differences.

    Loan limits and qualifications

    Direct subsidized student loans have lower annual loan limits than direct unsubsidized loans. For example, first-year dependent undergraduate students can borrow $3500 in subsidized loans and $5500 in unsubsidized loans. Both contribute to a total federal student loan limit of $23,000.

    Furthermore, students must demonstrate sufficient financial need to qualify for subsidized types of loans. You can apply via the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In contrast, unsubsidized student loans are available to any student borrower, no matter their financial need.

    Interest and fees

    As mentioned above, the most significant difference between subsidized and unsubsidized student loans is how interest is handled. Subsidized student loans have their interest paid by the government for a while, but unsubsidized loans do not.

    There are other differences as well, however. Subsidized federal student loans have fixed annual percentage rates or APRs of 4.99% for all loans disbursed from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. These apply to loan payments (usually monthly payments) required over the life of the loan.

    Unsubsidized federal student loans have fixed APRs of 4.99% for undergraduate loans, 6.54% for graduate or professional student loans, and 7.54% for PLUS loans. These rates apply for the same timeframe as subsidized loans.

    Meanwhile, subsidized and unsubsidized loans have fees of 1.057% for all loans disbursed between October 1, 2020, and October 1, 2021.

    Grace periods and deferment

    Subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans have six-month grace periods, or periods of deferment, meaning student loan repayment won’t begin until six months after graduation.

    However, unsubsidized loans’ interest capitalizes, meaning that it is added to the original loan amount. That’s because, as stated above, the federal government doesn’t pay the interest fees for unsubsidized student loans.

    Unfortunately, this can lead to a spiraling and costly effect. The larger the principal loan balance gets, for example, the more each successive interest charge adds to the pile. Therefore, prospective students should be careful about using too many unsubsidized federal student loans.

    As far as deferment is concerned, the Education Department pays interest for all subsidized loans during deferment periods, like the recent one for Covid-19. Unsubsidized loans, of course, have their interest continue to be collected during deferment.

    Recently, the U.S. government released a student loan debt relief program. U.S. citizens could qualify for loan forgiveness. However, this program is currently blocked.

    How much money can you borrow?

    Now that you know the significant differences between subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, you might wonder what the maximum amount you can borrow is.

    Dependent first-year undergraduate students can borrow $5500 in student loans, of which no more than $3,500 can be subsidized. Independent students, meanwhile, can borrow up to $9,500. Again, only up to $3,500 can be in subsidized loans.

    The loan rates increase for each successive year of schooling. Here’s a breakdown:

    • Dependent second-year undergraduate students: $4,500 in subsidized loans, $6,500 total.
    • Independent second-year undergraduate students: $4,500 in subsidized loans, $10,500 total.
    • Dependent third-year and beyond undergraduate students: $5,500 in subsidized loans, $7,500 total.
    • Independent third-year and beyond undergraduate students: $5,500 in subsidized loans, $12,500 total.

    As you can see, you can only take out a certain amount of money in loans per year from the federal government. If you have more financial needs, you’ll have to seek financial aid through scholarships, grants or loans from private lenders or other institutions.

    Which should you use: subsidized or unsubsidized student loans?

    Given all this information, you might ask yourself whether you should prioritize subsidized unsubsidized student loans.

    For most American students, the answer is clear: Subsidized student loans are superior because you don’t have to worry about interest accruing while you are at school and through any grace or deferment periods.

    In this way, you’ll pay less for subsidized loans over their lifespans than unsubsidized loans. However, you can’t take out as much money in federal direct subsidized loans as you can in unsubsidized loans.

    The most followed strategy is this:

    • Apply for as many federal student-subsidized loans as you can. Take out as much money through this system as possible, as it is the most cost-effective way to pay for your education and benefit from plentiful repayment options.
    • Then, only if you still need a little more money, take out extra unsubsidized federal student loans for the remainder of the academic year to pay for the cost of attendance.
    • Alternatively, pursue other means of financial aid, like scholarships, grants, and other loans with low-interest rates from secondary financial institutions and lenders like banks or credit unions.

    If you do this, you’ll negate as many of your future interest payments as possible and walk away with as much financial aid as possible.

    Related: Don’t Be a Victim: 4 Ways You Can Take Charge of Your Student Loans

    Should you take out federal or private student loans?

    Given the potentially high costs of unsubsidized federal student loans, some students might wonder whether private loans are better.

    It’s almost always better to borrow federally first. Why? Private loans, even those offered by trustworthy financial institutions, usually have higher interest rates. They also usually require cosigners if student borrowers don’t have credit histories, which is very common for first-time college students.

    Related: Private and Federal Student Loans for College: Which Works Best for Your Child?

    Meanwhile, subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans offer more forgiveness and refinancing options, borrower repayment plans and extra flexibility compared to private loans.

    In the worst-case scenario, if you default on your loans and have a ton of student debt, you’ll have an easier time resolving things with federal student loans than with private student loans.

    You should only use private student loans if you have to fill unexpected payment gaps to meet college expenses or if you find an excellent deal with a low-interest rate. In that case, a private student loan might be slightly better compared to an unsubsidized student loan, but that’s rarer than not.

    Summary

    In many ways, subsidized student loans might be superior to unsubsidized loans. Still, both could allow you to acquire a college education and open up new professional pathways for your future.

    If you qualify for student loans, it may be best to take them, provided you plan to pay them back once you graduate. Additionally, consult your college’s financial aid office to receive more personalized counseling.

    Looking for more resources to expand your financial knowledge? Explore Entrepreneur’s Money & Finance articles here

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    Entrepreneur Staff

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  • Core Scientific’s Lender Offers $72 Million Bailout To Embattled Miner

    Core Scientific’s Lender Offers $72 Million Bailout To Embattled Miner

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    Core Scientific’s lender, B Riley, has stated its intentions of loaning out $72 million to the embattled publicly traded miner. Core Scientific currently has an existing loan with B Riley totaling $42 million. The new $72 million loan would be “on favorable terms,” and aim to provide two years of runway before anticipating profitability from the company.

    In the lender’s released statement it described how, “We believe that there is a path forward and have been proactive in working through a solution, specifically by providing debt on a number of unencumbered assets.”

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    BtcCasey

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  • Paytm’s lending business hits annualised run rate of Rs 34,000 cr; 9.2 mn loans disbursed in Q2

    Paytm’s lending business hits annualised run rate of Rs 34,000 cr; 9.2 mn loans disbursed in Q2

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    Despite incurring quarterly losses, fintech major Paytm continued to see steady growth in its lending business in the September quarter this fiscal. The platform disbursed 9.2 million loans worth Rs 7,313 crore in Q2, recording a 224 per cent year-on-year growth, Paytm said in its earnings statement.

    “[Our] loan distribution business has scaled up significantly over the last 12 months, seeing increased adoption by users. We exited Q2 FY23 with disbursements in our loan distribution business at an annualised run-rate (ARR) of about Rs 34,000 crore,” Paytm shared.

    The value of personal loans jumped 736 per cent to Rs 2,055 crore since last September (Q2 FY22). More than 40 per cent of the disbursements were made to existing Paytm Postpaid [the Buy-Now-Pay-Later product] users. The average ticket size (ATS) of personal loans stood at Rs 110,000, while ATS for merchant loans was at Rs 150,000 in Q2 FY23.

    Total merchant loans disbursed amounted to Rs 1,208 crore, a YoY growth of 342 per cent. “Repeat loans continue to see a healthy take up with 50 per cent of merchants having taken a loan more than once. More than 85 per cent of value disbursed this quarter was to merchants with a deployed Paytm payment device,” the company said in exchange filings.

    Meanwhile, Paytm Postpaid, which powers purchases at checkouts with instant credit, disbursed loans worth Rs 4,050 crore, growing at 449 per cent. This was driven by increasing user adoption and rising offline-online merchant acceptance, with the network reaching 15 million at the end of Q2 FY23. Paytm Postpaid’s signed-up user base has now crossed 6 million. “Postpaid continues to show significant cross-sell opportunities in personal loans and credit cards,” according to the company.

    Even though Paytm’s lending business has grown consistently, the Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led company reckons it is still an under-penetrated market, with more headroom for growth and at high profit margins.

    Paytm Postpaid penetration stands at 4 per cent of average Monthly Transacting Users (MTU); personal loans penetration is at a mere 0.6 per cent of average MTU; and merchant loans penetration is at 4.4 per cent of total devices deployed by Paytm. “Our penetration level for each product remains low, and gives us a long growth runway ahead,” the company said.

    Overall, Paytm’s revenue in the ‘Financial Services and Others’ business was Rs 349 crore, up 293 per cent YoY, and now accounts for 18 per cent of the company’s total revenues. This is “driven by sourcing and collection revenues in our loan distribution business”, the company revealed.

    It added, “Our collections efforts continue to deliver good performance, with indicative portfolio performance across loan products holding up well. We continue to seek growth and upsell opportunities as low penetration supports future growth potential, while working with our lending partners to maintain healthy credit quality.”

    Also read: Nykaa, Paytm, Policy Bazaar: Lock-in periods of 10 IPOs to expire in November

    Also read: Paytm Q2 losses narrow sequentially to Rs 571 crore

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  • ‘Stop taking loans, start saving early’: Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath’s advice to millennials, gen Z

    ‘Stop taking loans, start saving early’: Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath’s advice to millennials, gen Z

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    Stock trading firm Zerodha’s co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath has shared some do’s and don’t for millennials and generation Z, who according to him need to take retirement a little seriously.

    Kamath, who keeps sharing valuable tips for investors, on Saturday said what new generations don’t think about enough is that the retirement age is dropping fast due to technological progress and life expectancy going up due to medical progress.

    As per American think-tank Pew research, anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 23 to 38 in 2019) is considered a millennial, and anyone born from 1997 onward is part of a new generation (Gen G). 

    Kamath said that the retirement crisis will probably be the biggest problem for most countries in the next 25 years. Earlier generations, he said, got lucky with long-term real estate and equity bull markets that helped them create a retirement corpus but that may not be the case for new generations.

    The stockbroker and investor said that in 20 years, retirement could be at 50 and life expectancy at 80. “How do you fund the 30 years?” he asked. 

    If climate change doesn’t kill us all, the retirement crisis will probably be the biggest problem for most countries 25 years from now, he said in a LinkedIn post. 

    “Earlier generations got lucky with long-term real estate & equity bull markets that helped create a retirement corpus. Unlikely in the future,” he added.

    So, he suggested four things that new generations need to do to avoid a post-retirement crisis. 

    Kamath’s first advice to the new generations is to stop getting triggered by everyone trying to lend and stop borrowing to buy things you don’t need or depreciate in value. Second, start saving early and diversify across FDs, government securities, and SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) of Index funds, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds). He said stocks are probably still the best bet to beat inflation long term.

    Third, Kamath said one needs to have a comprehensive health insurance policy for oneself and everyone in the family. He said one health incident is enough to push most people into financial ruin or set them back many years financially. “Jobs don’t last forever, hence one policy outside of what is provided at work,” he added. 

    Fourth, if one has dependents, s/he should be covered. “Buy a term policy with adequate cover. In the worst case, this money in a bank FD should cover their financial needs,” Kamath wrote. In the last, he said the biggest fix for most people is they should stop taking loans. 

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  • Learning From Bitcoin Loan Strategies

    Learning From Bitcoin Loan Strategies

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    This is an opinion editorial by Wilbrrr Wrong, a Bitcoin pleb and economic history enthusiast.

    In this article, I describe my experience in using bitcoin-collateralized loans, of the sort offered by Holdhodl or Unchained Capital. I employed these loans during the bull run of 2020-2021, using some general rules of thumb, however recently I’ve made a study which shows that they could be used with greater safety if a more systematic approach is put in place.

    I’ll make the caveat at the outset that my practice may well be criticized as failing to “stay humble.” Certainly many pundits would advise against these ideas, for example in this “Once Bitten” episode with Andy Edstrom.

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    Wilbrrrr Wrong

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  • CoinLoan Platform Overcomes Volatility in Crypto-Backed Lending

    CoinLoan Platform Overcomes Volatility in Crypto-Backed Lending

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    Press Release



    updated: Apr 23, 2019

    ​​​​​​CoinLoan crypto-backed lending platform presents a dynamic risk-management system that is capable of resisting market fluctuations. In numbers, this translates into raising the LTV limit to 70 percent and liquidation threshold to more than 90 percent. In practice, it allows borrowers to get more fiat against their crypto and not care too much about margin calls.

    The Necessary Evil of Crypto-Lending

    Crypto-backed lending services help hodlers to access the liquidity of their coins by borrowing against them rather than selling them. No wonder that such services gained wide popularity during the last couple of years. The high liquidity and boundless nature turn cryptocurrencies into almost perfect collateral.

    But “almost” is the key word here; obstacles come from extreme volatility. Giving $700 against cryptoasset valued at $1,000 today, no one can be sure that collateral price won’t drop below $700 tomorrow.

    Problems of Low LTVs and Liquidation Risk

    There’s a proven model to cope with crypto market fluctuations. It operates perfectly for lenders, but mainly at the cost of borrowers. To be on the safe side, lending platforms put Loan-to-Value limit down, so our users can usually take no more than $500 for cryptoasset worth $1,000.

    Liquidation point is set way too low as well. If the collateral value drops, increasing the LTV (no higher than 80 percent usually), the system will alert the borrower and ask him to add more fiat or crypto to maintain a healthy LTV ratio. Otherwise, cryptocollateral will be liquidated automatically to secure the lender’s funds.

    How to Handle Volatility

    Alex Faliushin, co-founder and CEO at CoinLoan, explained how his team found a solution to the crypto-lending issues:

    “It was obvious that liquidation approaches are far from perfect. Over the past year, we’ve been testing new risk-management ideas. Today we have a solution that makes things as convenient as possible for borrowers.”

    In short, CoinLoan’s dynamic liquidation system allows cryptocollateral to become resistant to market movements. Liquidation point is estimated for each loan individually and depends on the interest rate. For loans with an interest rate of up to 12 percent, the threshold is expected to be 92 percent, for those between 13 percent to 24 percent it will be 91 percent and so on. In all cases, liquidation may only occur when LTV is over 90 percent.

    “Such a high liquidation threshold enables us to increase the LTV limit as well. In other words, a borrower gets more money for his crypto. Today, CoinLoan platform is open to 70 percent LTV loans; it’s one of the best conditions on the market,” adds Alex Faliushin.

    Source: Coinloan

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  • Max Cash Title Loans is Proud to Announce Their Car Photo Contest

    Max Cash Title Loans is Proud to Announce Their Car Photo Contest

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    Max Cash Title Loans, the top-rated car title loan referral service, is running a car photo contest with a $500 prize. Random winner!

    Press Release



    updated: Dec 20, 2016

    ​​Max Cash Title Loans, the top-rated car title loan referral service in the industry, is delighted to announce that they will be providing an opportunity to win $500 by conducting a car photo contest on social media. The cash will be awarded based on a random drawing so everyone will have a chance to win.

    The Max Cash Title Loans Car Photo Contest’s entry period began on December 15th of 2016 and will be ongoing until January 16th, 2017. All entries must be received by midnight on the 16th to qualify to win. The contest is easy to enter and there is no purchase necessary to win. All that is required of you is to take an original photo of your vehicle, post it to the contest’s Facebook page, like the Facebook page, and share the promotion page on your own Facebook wall. The winner of $500 will be notified directly following the entry deadline.

    So many beautiful vehicles, from classics to super modern, people just love their cars. This contest to win $500 is for celebration of that love. It’s time to show off and use your car as a model for our site.

    Fred Winchar, President

    Max Cash Title Loans was recently named as Top Consumer Reviews’ top pick amongst all car title loan providers, with a five-star and best-in-class rating. Max Cash Title Loans’ has not only snagged the number one spot on Top Consumer Reviews but, additionally, has the highest score amongst title loan providers on Consumer Affairs, with a four and three-quarter star rating. Brian Dolezal of Top Consumer Reviews has said “Max Cash Title Loans makes it extremely easy to get the needed funds quickly…[and] makes every effort to use their loan volumes to get good interest rates and service for their customers.”

    Max Cash Title Loans sets themselves apart from all other title loan providers in their tireless pursuit of excellence, service, encouragement, strength, diversity, support, and community. All of these things are encompassed in their mission statement to provide high quality loan services with integrity, professionalism, and respect to their clients, their lenders, and the community with which they share resources.

    “For quite some time, we have wanted to show our clients that we are different than any other lending service out there,” says Fred Winchar, CEO and Founder of Max Cash Title Loans. “We thought, what better way to show that we are passionate about helping those in financial need than to give out free money!”

    Max Cash Title Loans hopes that many individuals will enter their photo contest; and they look forward to awarding the lucky winner with $500 so they might start their new year with financial peace of mind.

    About Max Cash Title Loans:

    Max Cash Title Loans is a brand of Tradition Media Group, LLC (TMG Loan Processing) which is the largest title loan independent car title loan processor in the nation and the highest ranked title loan processor as rated by Consumer Affairs. Max Cash Title Loans is an extensive title loan referral service that partners with title loan lenders nationwide. If you need funding quickly, Max Cash Title Loans finds you a lender with competitive interest rates and low monthly installments. No matter where you live, from the west coast to the east coast, they can help you obtain a title loan.

    Media Contact:

    Fred Winchar
    Phone: 480-498-3940 
    Email: fred@maxcashtitleloans.com

    Source: Max Cash Title Loans

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