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Cash Store Reviews and Ratings
The Cash Store brand logo
Cash Store is a small-dollar lender. It offers installment loans, single-payment cash advances, and title loans. It now operates only in Idaho, Texas, and Wisconsin. Axcess Financial Holdings, the parent of Check ‘n Go, bought the brand in 2024 after Cottonwood Financial filed for bankruptcy.
Most people who search “Cash Store reviews” have already applied or are about to. You want to know one thing. Is the fast cash worth the high cost?
The cost is not one simple rate. Instead, in Texas, Cash Store charges its own fee on top of a third-party lender’s interest. That stacked cost is where most complaints begin.
This review lays out the real APR, the current ownership, and the checks to make before you sign. It sticks to verified facts, not marketing claims.
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What is Cash Store?
The Cash Store homepage prompts borrowers to select their state before viewing rates, and advertises installment loans up to $5,000 alongside a 4.2 Trustpilot score.
Cash Store is a payday loan alternative that lends in stores and online. It began in 1996 under Cottonwood Financial Ltd. For years it grew across several states. Then the business struggled.
In February 2024, Cottonwood Financial filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A court approved the sale of its assets to CNG Holdings, also known as Axcess Financial Holdings. Subsequently, that deal closed in August 2024. Axcess also owns Check ‘n Go, Allied Cash Advance, and Xact.
Today Cash Store runs about 150 stores across Idaho, Texas, and Wisconsin. The brand kept operating through the sale. Ownership changed, but the storefronts stayed open.
How Cash Store works in Texas
Cash Store is not always the direct lender. In Texas, it acts as a registered Credit Services Organization. Moreover, it holds a Credit Access Business license. That means it arranges your loan with an outside lender and charges its own fee for the service.
So a Texas loan has two costs. You pay interest to the third-party lender. You also pay a fee to Cash Store. Idaho and Wisconsin may use a direct-lender model instead. Confirm the structure for your state before you borrow.
Cash Store products and services
Installment loans
Cash Store offers installment loans up to $5,000. You repay in fixed amounts over time. However, terms vary by state. In Texas, the credit access business fee and third-party interest both apply.
Cash advances
A cash advance is a single-payment, payday-style loan. As a result, you repay the full amount on your next pay date. Availability varies by state.
Title loans
Title loans can reach up to $25,000. You use your vehicle title as collateral. If you cannot repay, you risk losing your car. Check availability in your state.
Pocket360 online portal
Pocket360 is the online account tool. You use it to manage your loan after you get it. It is not a loan product on its own.
Cash Store at a glance
- Serves Idaho, Texas, and Wisconsin
- Offers installment loans, cash advances, and title loans
- Installment loans up to $5,000
- Title loans up to $25,000
- No credit check to apply, proof of income required
- Same-day funding in store
- Owned by Axcess Financial Holdings since 2024
- APRs reported up to more than 800 percent
- Not accredited by the BBB
Cost of a Cash Store loan
The cost of a Cash Store loan is high. It is also not one flat number.
In Texas, you pay two charges. One is the periodic fee to Cash Store. Meanwhile, the other is interest to an outside lender. Both show up together as one APR on your loan disclosure.
Recent figures show how steep this gets. For instance, one sourced example lists a $500 loan over 217 days at 388.55 percent APR. The borrower repays six payments of $190.94 and a final payment of $190.88. Across sources, APRs range from roughly 388 percent to more than 800 percent. The exact rate depends on the loan type, term, and state.
A rate like this dwarfs most other credit. By comparison, a standard personal loan usually costs far less, even for borrowers with weak credit.
Always pull the live example from the Cash Store Rates and Terms page for your state before you apply.
The credit access business fee in Texas
In Texas, the two-part cost can confuse borrowers. The fee to Cash Store stacks on the lender’s interest. Both appear as one blended APR, yet they are two legal charges from two parties. BBB complaints show the result. For example, some borrowers say a dollar amount was added that no one clearly explained as a separate charge.
Cash Store pros and cons
Pros
- No credit check to apply, income proof instead
- Same-day funding in store
- Several loan types under one application
- Pocket360 portal to manage your account
- Trustpilot reviewers often praise staff by name
Cons
- APRs reach into the hundreds of percent
- Only three states served
- Texas borrowers pay two stacked charges
- A December 2024 Texas state order for not answering an investigation
- A 2020 CFPB penalty for deceptive fee ads, now closed
Who Cash Store is best for
Cash Store may fit a narrow group of borrowers.
- People in Idaho, Texas, or Wisconsin who need same-day cash for one short-term bill
- People who do not qualify for cheaper credit and have checked lower-rate options first
- People who prefer an in-person process over an online-only lender
- People who read and understand the full stacked cost before they sign
Before you borrow here, weigh safer paths. A debt consolidation loan or a credit union payday alternative can cost far less.
Who should avoid Cash Store
Cash Store is a poor fit for many people.
- Borrowers outside its three states
- Borrowers who have not compared it against lower-cost lenders first
- Borrowers already behind on other short-term debt
- Borrowers who want a lender with a clean regulatory record
If you are shopping around, start with lower-cost personal loan companies and compare the total cost.
Cash Store reviews and ratings, what customers report
Trustpilot reviews
Cash Store holds a 4.2 out of 5 “Great” rating on Trustpilot from 83 reviews, with recent reviewers frequently praising individual store staff by name.
Cash Store holds about 4.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot. That comes from roughly 80 reviews as of July 2026. Happy customers name specific staff for patient, friendly help. In contrast, unhappy customers point to AutoPay confusion and surprise withdrawals.
Better Business Bureau reviews
Cash Store’s Better Business Bureau profile shows the lender is not BBB accredited and carries a B rating with 64 complaints filed against the business.
Cash Store is not accredited by the BBB. Location profiles carry a mix of ratings, with some at a B grade. Complaints roll up to the parent Axcess Financial Services profile. A common theme is fees added to a balance that borrowers say were never explained clearly.
Yelp reviews
On Yelp, Cash Store averages 3.8 out of 5 stars across 355 reviews spanning 273 locations, reflecting a sharply mixed customer experience.
On Yelp, the brand scores 3.8 out of 5. That figure spans 356 reviews across 273 locations. Reviews split sharply. Some praise the staff. Meanwhile, others warn about fees and aggressive collection calls.
CFPB complaint database
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau logs consumer complaints against the brand. The clearest federal action is the 2020 consent order, covered below. Check the database for any newer filings before you apply.
Reddit reviews
Reddit users rarely single out Cash Store by name. Still, one thread describes the lender trying to pull a payment early, before the borrower’s pay date. The wider mood on these forums is caution. Many users warn against payday-style loans of any brand.
Cash Store outcomes and success rate
Cash Store does not publish approval rates or savings figures. So treat any success claim with care.
Small-dollar loans like these solve a short cash gap. However, they do not build wealth or credit. In Texas, Cash Store states it does not report to credit bureaus. So on-time payments may not help your score. Confirm the credit reporting rules for your state.
Set a realistic expectation. These loans cost a lot, and the value is speed, not savings. Miss payments and you risk more fees and a possible default on a loan.
Cash Store vs Speedy Cash
Speedy Cash is a fair comparison. Both are registered credit access businesses in Texas. In addition, they offer installment loans, cash advances, and title loans. Each one blends in-store and online service with no required credit check.
Speedy Cash is owned by CURO Group Holdings. Notably, its footprint is larger than Cash Store’s three states. Before you pick either one, pull each lender’s live rates and fees for your state. Compare the total cost, not just the advertised speed.
Do not treat Check ‘n Go as the alternative. It now shares the same parent that bought Cash Store.
Is Cash Store legitimate?
Cash Store is a licensed lender, not a scam. But its record has real marks you should know.
In Texas, it operates under a Credit Access Business license. That license sets its legal status in the state.
In 2020, the CFPB issued a consent order against Cottonwood Financial. The order required $286,675.64 in consumer refunds and a $1.1 million penalty. It cited deceptive fee advertising and credit reporting violations. That matter is closed, but it stays on the record.
In December 2024, the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner issued an order against the Texas entity. Specifically, the company had failed to respond to two state requests for financial information after the bankruptcy. This is a compliance issue, not a fraud finding. Still, you should know about it.
The brand also changed hands in 2024. That was a shift in ownership, not a shutdown. Weigh these facts together and decide with clear eyes.
Cash Store final verdict
Cash Store gives fast, in-store cash to people with few options. That speed is its main strength.
But the cost runs into the hundreds of percent. The Texas fee structure confuses many borrowers. A recent state order and a past federal penalty sit on the brand’s record. Its own site still uses words like reputable and trustworthy that predate the 2024 sale.
So the verdict is conditional. Cash Store can work for a small, informed group in its three states who have no cheaper option. For most others, a path like debt settlement or a lower-cost lender is the smarter move. Read the full terms first. Then decide.
Cash Store frequently asked questions
Is Cash Store legit?
Yes. Cash Store is a licensed lender in Idaho, Texas, and Wisconsin. It has faced regulatory action, including a 2020 CFPB order, so read its terms with care.
Who owns Cash Store now?
Axcess Financial Holdings, also known as CNG Holdings, bought the brand in 2024. The same company owns Check ‘n Go.
How much does a Cash Store loan cost?
A lot. Reported APRs run from about 388 percent to more than 800 percent. The rate depends on the loan type, term, and state.
Does Cash Store check your credit?
No credit check is required to apply. You do need to show proof of income instead.
Does Cash Store report to credit bureaus?
In Texas, Cash Store states it does not report to credit bureaus. On-time payments there may not help your score. Confirm the rule for your state.
Cash Store legal disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It does not offer financial or legal advice. Loan terms, fees, APRs, and eligibility vary by state and can change without notice. Verify current terms with Cash Store before you apply.
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Advertorial or Sponsorship User published Content does not represent the views of the Company or any individual associated with the Company, and we do not control this Content. In no event shall you represent or suggest, directly or indirectly, the Company's endorsement of user published Content.
The company does not vouch for the accuracy or credibility of any user published Content on our Website and does not take any responsibility or assume any liability for any actions you may take as a result of reading user published Content on our Website.
Through your use of the Website and Services, you may be exposed to Content that you may find offensive, objectionable, harmful, inaccurate, or deceptive.
By using our Website, you assume all associated risks.This Website contains hyperlinks to other websites controlled by third parties. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and do not imply endorsement by the Company of, or any affiliation with, or endorsement by, the owner of the linked website.
Company is not responsible for the contents or use of any linked website, or any consequence of making the link.
This content is provided by New Start Advantage LLC through a licensed media partnership with Inquirer.net. Inquirer.net does not endorse or verify partner content. All information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Offers and terms may change without notice.
