Is Three Sticks Lending legit?
Yes, Three Sticks Lending is a legitimate company, but it’s also a tribal lender, which means you’ll pay sky-high APRs. According to the company website, Three Sticks Lending protects customer data with 256-bit SSL encryption. However, it shares your data with third-party companies, so expect to receive unsolicited marketing materials if you fill out an application.
And while the company earns high ratings from past customers on Trustpilot, its parent company is not BBB-accredited, has an F rating and lists 11 alternate company names on that site, which raises a few additional red flags.
How Three Sticks Lending compares to other lenders
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What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product’s interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate – this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you’re comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.
Read the full Finder Score breakdown
Where Three Sticks Lending falls short
The most obvious drawback to borrowing from Three Sticks Lending is the high APRs charged by the company. Though it doesn’t openly disclose its rates, customers report paying between 400% and 700%. APRs this high often trap customers in a cycle of debt, making it difficult to keep up with necessary expenses while repaying the debt.
There are also issues with the availability of these loans, the company doesn’t operate in all 50 states and military members, plus their spouses and dependents, are prohibited by law from taking out a loan.
This lender also isn’t a good pick if you need a large loan amount or long repayment terms. The highest loan allowed is $3,000, and it must be paid back in 18 months maximum. Other installment loan providers may offer larger loan amounts and longer repayment terms, along with lower interest rates.
What makes Three Sticks Lending shine?
Three Sticks Lending can provide money quickly if you find yourself in a financial bind. The application process is simple, straightforward and takes just a few minutes to complete online. Funds can be disbursed the same day if your application is approved and you return loan documents by 2:00 p.m. CT.
According to Trustpilot, most customers are happy with their experience and report that customer service agents are helpful and easy to reach.
Three Sticks Lending loan details
| Loan amount | $200 to $3,000 |
| Repayment terms | 10 to 18 months |
| APR | Not provided, but between 400% and 700% according to customer reports |
| Turnaround | The same day (if application is completed and approved by 2:00 p.m. CT) |
| Minimum credit score | No minimum required |
| Other requirements | Be at least 18 years old Have an email and phone number Have an active checking account Have verifiable income Not currently in bankruptcy |
| Fees | $20 late payment fee $30 NSF fee No prepayment penalty |
| Availability | Not available in: Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia |
Three Sticks Lending contact information
| Phone number | 844-328-1024 |
| Customer service hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Hotline for additional assistance | 877-658-2433 |
| Hotline hours | 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.CT |
| customerservice@threestickslending.com |
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| Principal | $ |
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| Interest | $ |
| Total Cost | $ |
How to qualify for Three Sticks Lending
Three Sticks Lending has just a few simple requirements you need to meet to take out a loan:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have proof of identify
- Be able to provide your contact information (phone number, address, email)
- Have an active personal checking account
- Have verifiable income
- Not be involved in a current bankruptcy proceeding
How to apply
To apply with Three Sticks Lending, here’s what you need to do:
- Go to the Three Sticks Lending website and select Apply Now.
- Follow the guided process, providing your personal details, income and banking information.
- Receive your approval status and loan documents (if you qualify).
- Review the terms carefully to make sure you can afford the repayments.
- Sign the documents and return them. Expect to receive funds either the same day or the following business day.
Three Sticks Lending reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited |
No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating |
F |
| BBB customer reviews |
1.22 out of 5 stars, based on 36 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score |
4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 1,338 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of |
18 June 2025 |
Three Sticks Lending has high marks on Trustpilot, with customers praising its easy application, helpful service and fast loan disbursement. However, 7% of past customers gave the company a single star, citing extremely high APRs — often called “illegal” — early withdrawals causing overdraft fees, poor customer service and being denied after receiving a “preapproved” offer.
Reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are primarily negative, with just two people out of 36 giving the company 5 stars and the remaining 34 giving the company a single star. Comments are pretty much in line with Trustpilot, with happy customers pleased with the fast, easy loan process and unhappy customers complaining about the high interest rates.
Keep in mind, the BBB profile is for “Rosebud Lending,” which is the parent company for Three Sticks Lending. Reviews on the BBB site could be for the parent company or any of its 11 alternate company names, including Three Sticks Lending.
What do people on Reddit say?
There’s a lot of chatter on Reddit about Three Sticks Lending. Most posts are from people who took out loans from the company and are seeking advice because they’re struggling to make payments due to the high interest rates. Some even report being behind on rent because they’re unable to pay both the high loan payments and regular expenses.
Other topics of conversation include difficulty paying off a past due balance, revoking authorization to avoid scheduled repayments and whether Three Sticks Lending reports to the three major credit bureaus. (They don’t.) The company was recommended by one Redditor who commented on a post looking for a short-term lender.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Three Sticks Lending take to deposit?
If you complete the application and have it approved by 2:00 p.m. CT, you could receive your funds the same day.
How do I pay off Three Sticks Lending early?
If you want to pay off your loan early, you’ll need to contact the Three Sticks Lending customer service team to get your payoff amount at least three business days before your next scheduled payment. You can reach them by calling 844-328-1024.
Are loans from Three Sticks Lending legal?
Yes, they are. Three Sticks Lending is a tribal lender run by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, which means they’re not subject to state laws. Instead, they’re governed by the Tribe’s Tribal Consumer Financial Services Regulatory Code and national laws, which permit loans with high interest rates.
