ACE Cash Express is a financial services storefront offering check cashing, payday loans, money transfers, bill payment, and prepaid card products at physical locations and online.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
ACE Cash Express operates physical storefronts and an online platform providing a range of consumer financial services to underbanked populations. The company has been established long enough to maintain multiple locations across the United States, including the Los Angeles location at 7205 S Figueroa St referenced in this profile. Their primary business model centers on serving customers who need quick access to cash and financial services without traditional banking relationships. ACE Cash Express offers payday loans ranging from $100–$255 online and in-store, positioned as short-term solutions for unexpected expenses until the next paycheck. Beyond lending, they provide check cashing (any government-issued ID required, no bank account needed), MoneyGram money transfers to over 200 countries, bill payment services for rent and utilities, money orders, ATM services, tax refund check cashing, and prepaid debit card products including the Porte account, Flare Account, and ACE Elite Visa card. Banking services are provided through Pathward, N.A. (Member FDIC), indicating third-party partnerships for regulated deposit accounts. What distinguishes ACE Cash Express is the breadth of services consolidated in one location—customers can obtain a payday loan, cash a check, send money internationally, and pay bills without visiting multiple providers. Their extended store hours (8 AM–7 PM weekdays, 9 AM–5 PM Saturday) and in-person support model appeal to working populations with limited access to traditional banking hours. The prepaid card offerings (Porte and Flare) position them as a quasi-banking alternative with mobile app functionality. However, consumers should recognize that payday loans—the company's signature product—carry legal and regulatory caps in California but remain high-cost debt that can create repayment cycles. While the breadth of services is genuinely useful for underbanked populations, the core business model relies on small-dollar lending, which inherently targets financially vulnerable consumers. The company's transparency about products and California regulatory disclosures (including the Notice at Collection) is appropriate, but the fundamental cost of payday borrowing and the short repayment window remain material financial risks.
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Yes. Via Cash is a registered company headquartered in 2135 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
ACE Cash Express is best suited for unbanked or underbanked consumers who need immediate access to check cashing, bill payment, or money transfer services without a traditional bank account. While the payday loan product attracts emergency borrowers, this high-cost debt option should only be considered as a genuine one-time solution for immediate cash needs with confirmed ability to repay in full by the next paycheck; the short terms and high implicit costs create significant financial risk for repeat borrowing.
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Read guide →New to credit and lending? Here are the key terms used on this page, explained in plain language with real-number examples.
The total yearly cost of borrowing money, including the interest rate plus any fees the lender charges. Think of it as the 'true price tag' on a loan.
Lenders must show APR by law (Truth in Lending Act) because the interest rate alone can hide fees. Comparing APR across lenders is the most reliable way to find the cheapest loan.
Example
You borrow $10,000 at 6% interest for 3 years, but there's a $300 origination fee. The interest rate is 6%, but the APR is 6.9% because it includes that fee. You'd pay $304/month and $946 total in interest.
Interest calculated on both the original amount borrowed AND the interest that's already been added. It's 'interest on interest' — and it makes debt grow faster than you'd expect.
Credit cards and many loans use compound interest. If you only make minimum payments, compound interest is why a $3,000 balance can take 15 years to pay off.
Example
You owe $1,000 at 20% annual interest compounded monthly. After month 1 you owe $1,016.67. Month 2, interest is charged on $1,016.67 (not $1,000), so you owe $1,033.61. After 1 year without payments: $1,219.
A special APR calculation used for military servicemembers that includes ALL costs — fees, insurance, and add-ons — capped at 36% by federal law.
The Military Lending Act protects active-duty servicemembers and their families from predatory lending. Any lender charging above 36% MAPR to military is breaking federal law.
Example
A payday lender charges a $15 fee per $100 borrowed for 2 weeks. For civilians, that's technically legal in some states. For military: that works out to 391% MAPR — illegal under the MLA.
The maximum interest rate a lender can legally charge in a particular state. Charging above this rate is called 'usury' and is illegal.
Usury laws are your main legal protection against predatory interest rates. But beware: some states have weak or no usury caps, and federal banks can sometimes override state limits.
Example
New York caps interest at 16% for most consumer loans (25% is criminal usury). If a lender tries to charge you 30% in NY, that loan is unenforceable — you could fight it in court.
An asset you pledge to the lender as security for a loan. If you stop paying, the lender can seize and sell that asset to recover their money.
Secured loans (with collateral) have lower interest rates because the lender has less risk. But you could lose your home, car, or savings if you default.
Example
A mortgage uses your house as collateral. A car loan uses your vehicle. A title loan uses your car title. If you miss payments, the lender can foreclose or repossess.
A charge added to your account when you miss a payment deadline. Most credit cards charge $29-$41 per late payment, and many loans have similar penalties.
The fee itself hurts, but the real damage is to your credit score. A payment 30+ days late stays on your credit report for 7 years and can drop your score 60-110 points.
Example
Your credit card payment of $150 is due March 1. You pay on March 18. The bank charges a $39 late fee. If it's 30+ days late, it gets reported to credit bureaus and your 760 score drops to 670.
A fee your bank charges when a payment bounces because there isn't enough money in your account. Also called a 'bounced check fee' or 'returned payment fee.'
NSF fees hit you twice — your bank charges you AND the company you were trying to pay may charge their own returned payment fee. That's $50-70 for one missed payment.
Example
Your auto-pay tries to pull $350 for rent, but you only have $280 in checking. Your bank charges $35 NSF fee. Your landlord charges $25 returned payment fee. Total damage: $60 in fees.
The practice of charging interest rates higher than what the law allows. Usury laws set state-specific caps on how much lenders can charge.
If a lender charges usurious rates, the loan may be void, penalties can be reduced, or you may be entitled to damages. Know your state's limits.
Example
Your state caps consumer loans at 24% APR. An online lender charges you 36%. That loan may be unenforceable, and you might only need to repay the principal — no interest or fees.
Using your credit card to get cash from an ATM or bank. It's one of the most expensive ways to borrow — higher interest rate, immediate interest accrual (no grace period), and an upfront fee.
Cash advances are a debt trap: 25-30% APR with no grace period plus a 3-5% fee. Interest starts the second you withdraw, not at the end of the billing cycle.
Example
You take a $500 cash advance. Fee: $25 (5%). Interest: 28% APR starting immediately. After 30 days, you owe $536.67. After 6 months of minimum payments, you've paid $85 in interest on $500.
Want to learn more? Read our Financial Wellness Guides for in-depth explanations and practical advice.
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