Is Birch Lending legit?
Birch Lending is a real lender, but it’s a wholly owned subsidiary of Benhti Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO), which was “created under the laws of and for the benefit of the Native Village of Minto,” a federally recognized sovereign Indian Tribe in Alaska. What that means is it follows tribal laws and doesn’t have to abide by the laws in your state.
So, while you can probably obtain loan approval from this lender, it has the freedom to charge rates up to 700% or more. Even with poor credit, you may be able to qualify for other installment lenders that offer more affordable rates.
How Birch 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 Birch Lending falls short
The rates Birch Lending charges are outrageous. It’s taking advantage of people in vulnerable financial positions and borrowers who may not read the loan agreement as carefully as they should. Legit lenders — including those who specialize in bad credit loans — disclose their rates and fees up front.
What makes Birch Lending shine?
By most accounts, Birch Lending has an easy application process and provides fast funding. It also accepts virtually all credit scores, making it an option for almost any borrower.
But there are other lenders out there who accept poor credit. You could also consider a lender like OneMain Financial that offers secured and cosigned loans. For smaller advances to cover you between paychecks, try a cash advance app, which doesn’t charge interest at all.
Birch Lending loan details
| Minimum credit score/credit range | No minimum requirement |
| APR | 500%+ (based on reviews) |
| Loan amounts | $200 to $3,000 |
| Terms | Not stated |
| Approval turnaround | As soon as same day |
| Availability | Not available in: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Fees | Late fee: $20 NSF penalty: $30 |
| Other fees | Unknown |
Birch Lending contact info
| Phone number | 833-742-4724 |
| Customer service hours | Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| customerservice@birchlending.com | |
| X ,formerly Twitter | N/A |
| N/A |
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| Principal | $ |
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| Interest | $ |
| Total Cost | $ |
How to qualify for Birch Lending
Here’s what Birch Lending says you need to qualify for one of its installment loans:
- At least 18 years old
- Proof of income
- Active checking account
- Not currently involved in a bankruptcy proceeding
How to apply
Follow these steps to apply for a Birch Lending installment loan:
- Fill out the online application.
- Wait to receive a decision by email.
- Complete verification and approval process.
- Read and e-sign your loan documents.
Birch Lending says it may check your credit, but it doesn’t specify when that occurs. It also states that a phone call is necessary to complete the verification process.
Birch Lending reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited |
No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating |
F |
| BBB customer reviews |
1.24 out of 5 stars, based on 37 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score |
4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 1,267 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of |
19 June 2025 |
Birch Lending has an F rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with only 1.24 out of 5 stars. Chief complaints include poor customer service and the ridiculously high rates, with some reviewers saying they were repaying three or four times the amount they borrowed. One client said it was helpful in an emergency, but only because they were able to pay it back within a month to avoid the excessive interest charges.
The company has more positive reviews on Trustpilot, with customers saying it was convenient and has an easy application process and fast funding. But even the good reviews describe rates as predatory. A few recommend that new borrowers carefully read the fine print so they realize exactly what they’re getting into and have a plan to pay it back ASAP.
What do people on Reddit say?
We didn’t find anything specific about Birch Lending on Reddit. However, there’s a lot of chatter about tribal loans in general charging rates up to 700% or more.
Advice from fellow Redditors is mixed: Some say to avoid these loans altogether, others suggest using it only in an emergency and to pay it back as fast as possible, and a few recommend not paying it back at all. But a lawyer piped in to say tribal lenders have had success at getting judgments and filing for wage garnishments.
Frequently asked questions
Can I repay my Birch Lending loan early?
Yes. It doesn’t charge prepayment penalties, so you can repay your loan in full at any time. You can also make additional payments to reduce your interest charges. However, you’ll need to call customer service to make any non-scheduled payments.
Can I cancel my loan with Birch Lending?
You can, but it has to be no later than 5 p.m. CT on the second business day after your loan is disbursed.
Will Birch Lending affect my credit?
It might. The company says it may report your payment history to one or more credit bureaus, although it doesn’t specify which ones. This can help your credit if you’re always on time, but late payments will lower your score.
