Golden Valley Lending Reviews

Read This Before You Apply For a Loan

Our Review of Golden Valley Lending

Brian Allen

Golden Valley Lending is a tribal lender that finances tribal loans for consumers with bad credit. Tribal loans come with very high interest rates and Golden Valley is no exception.  Our own analysis, plus reviews from customers, indicate this lender has excessive interest rates that exceed the average 440% APR of most tribal lenders. If you need an emergency loan to pay unexpected bills, you may want to steer clear of Golden Valley Lending.

Loan Amount

Funding Time

Cost of Loan

Customer Support

Application Process

Review Summary

Even though Golden Valley Lending helps consumers obtain installment loans who have less than perfect credit, it doesn’t mean it’s worth it.  How so?  Well, their interest rates are between 200% APR to a shocking 2,290% APR.  This is one of the highest tribal loan interest rates we’ve come across.  Our advice:  proceed with caution and make sure you do your homework.  You can even review other lenders and loan products on our site, so keep that in mind.

PROS
– Funds and deposits the loan within 24 business hours, typically
– Decent option for people with bad credit and have no other options available
– Application process is quick and smooth

CONS
– A very expensive form of borrowing.  Lender rates are as high as 2,290% APR.
– Not a good option overall

2.6

Who is Golden Valley Lending?

Golden Valley Lending is a tribal lender operated by the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, California. They offer consumers payday loan alternatives with very high interest rates. Short-term loans are small loans paid back, usually, within a year. Eligibility tends to be more relaxed than conventional banks or lenders that require high credit scores. Most lenders that offer bad credit loans will approve just about anyone…regardless of credit scores.

But, here’s the thing…lenders will look at your credit score when determining your interest rate.  The worse your credit score is, the higher your APR.  Which means, if this is the case, it takes you much longer to pay off your Golden Valley Lending loan. Submitting an application with Golden Valley Lending is quite simple.  (See section below on how to complete the application and what you do immediately after submitting.)

Important Note:  In April 2017, this lender was sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  According to the CFPB, Golden Valley Lending was involved in deceptive and unethical business practices. The lender charged questionable interest rates – often ranging from 440% to 950% APR. As an example, a loan of $800 would most likely lead to payments totaling to $3,320 over the course of just ten months.

The lawsuit deemed Golden Valley Lending is not legal in the following states:

How Much Will it Cost?

Reviews of Golden Valley Lending often point out that the lender has very unreasonable interest rates.  A few reviews have even compared the lender to a loan shark.  The official website states that they cannot tell you the specific APR. This is determined based on several factors, such as your credit score and risk.  Once you submit your application, they will let you know what your interest rate will be. That said, their typical interest rates are between 200% to 2,290% APR.

How Much Can I Borrow?

Golden Valley Lending allows you to borrow from $100 up to a maximum of $2,500.  Keep in mind that the more you borrow, the higher your loan payments are…and…the longer it will take to pay off the loan.  Consumers that opt for large loans often need debt help.  That said, here are the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Steady employment and income
• Minimum monthly income of $800
• Active checking account

Here’s how to complete the loan application process:

Select How Much You Need

Enter Your Personal Details

You will need to enter the following personal details in this section:

• First name
• Last name
• If you are in the military
• Email address
• Read the disclosures near each checkbox.  If satisfied, tick each box and click “Next”.

Personal Details Cont.

For this section, you need to give Golden Valley Lending:

• Physical Address
• Date of Birth
• Home Phone
• Cell Phone (optional)
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s License Number
• Driver’s License Issuing State

Once complete, click ‘Next‘.

Employer and Income

For this section, you need to complete:

• Employer Name
• Employer Phone Number
• Monthly Income
• If You Have Direct Deposit
• Your pay Frequency
• Next Pay date
• Second Pay Date

Once complete, click ‘Next‘.

Banking Details

Here, you will enter your banking information.  You will need:

• Bank routing number
• Your account number
• Account type (checking or savings)
• Bank Name
• Length of Time This Account Has Been Open

Final Loan Details

If you have a promo code, enter it here and select ‘Finish!‘ If you do not have a promo code, simply click ‘Finish!‘.

Golden Valley Lending Loan Terms

Golden Valley Lending is not a direct lender.  In fact, they state they are not a bank or lender at all.  Instead, they are a lead aggregator that submits your loan application to direct lenders.  In this case, you will be sent multiple offers from bad credit lenders.  While this can be seen as a good thing, you could also be swamped with calls, emails and texts from multiple lenders. Therefore, you will need to review the terms and conditions of lenders that Golden Valley Lending matches you with.

The Advantages

The disadvantages far outweigh the advantages, but they do have a few advantages for people with bad credit. Especially if you don’t have many options.  If you’ve tried a conventional loan from lenders and banks only to be turned down, our advice is to compare tribal lenders to find the best rates.  If you are still disapproved, it might make sense to give Golden Valley Lending a try.

That said, here are the advantages:

• Quick and easy application process
• No hard credit checks
• Funds wired into your checking account within 24 hours
• Multiple offers from lenders so you can choose the best rates and terms

The Disadvantages

Here’s where things get interesting and where you really need to pay attention.  The disadvantages clearly outweigh the advantages, so please read carefully.  And use your best judgement.  Scores of consumers are ruining their credit and digging deep into debt because they fail to read the terms and conditions of the loan.  This is where consumers get into trouble.  Read the terms of service very carefully.

That said, here are the disadvantages:

• Unreasonable interest rates that can climb to 2,290% APR
• Has been sued by the CFPB for deceptive business practices
• Offers large loans, which traps consumers in a near lifetime of debt
• Potentially charges hidden fees