Tilt, formerly Empower, is a fintech app that offers credit products for a wide range of clients, including those who have been denied credit elsewhere.
According to Tilt, the company uses over 250 non-traditional financial health signals to qualify applicants for "instant" cash advances, lines of credit, and credit cards.
In this review, we'll cover the key features and pros and cons of Tilt's products and services, and let you know who it's best suited for.
Quick Summary
- Interest-free cash advances from $10-$400
- $200 - $400 line of credit with room to grow to $1000
- Choose from 3 different rewards credit cards
Tilt is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by nbkc bank, Member FDIC.
What Is Tilt?
Tilt is a fintech app that helps people access cash advances with no credit check, interest or late fees. You can also borrow with a line of credit or a credit card.
⚠︎ This Is A Banking Service Provider, Not A Bank.
Empower is a financial technology company, not a bank. While it uses partner banks to provide banking services, your FDIC-insurance protection may be limited. Read this article from the FDIC to understand the risks of using a non-bank company.
What Does It Offer?
Here's a closer look at Tilt's main products:
Tilt Cash Advance
Tilt offers cash advances from $10 to $400 with no credit check, no late fees, and no interest. To sign up, download the Tilt app for your mobile device or head to the website. You'll need to link your main bank account where your payroll is deposited. Tilt will assess your financial habits, including your income and your spending, to determine whether you can repay the cash advance. The cash advance is repaid automatically from your bank account on the same day you are paid.
You can choose to receive your cash advance via standard delivery or instantly, for an extra fee. Standard delivery usually takes one business day, via ACH transfer. Instant delivery ranges from $1 - $8 or more, depending on the amount of the cash advance.
See how Tilt compares to other cash advance apps.
Tilt Line Of Credit
The Tilt Line of Credit is offered by Tilt's banking partner, FinWise Bank. It's a flexible loan, and does charge interest up to 35.99% APR. The line of credit has credit-building benefits, because your payment history is reported to the credit bureau each month, and it appears on your credit report as a tradeline.
Tilt's line of credit differs from a typical bank credit line in that there is no minimum credit score required to qualify. You can start with a limit of $200 to $400, and increase it as high as $1000 as you make on-time payments.
Tilt offers three repayment options:
- Repay and skip the interest: If you pay the balance in full by your next paycheck date, you can avoid the 35.99% interest.
- Repay in instalments: You can choose to repay in either 2 or 4 payments at 35.99% APR.
- Repay with flexibility: Choose your repayment date and pay 35.99%.
It's worth noting that the Tilt Line of Credit is not available in the following states:
- llinois
- Maryland
- Colorado
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Iowa
- DC
- Vermont
- Maine
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
Tilt Credit Cards
Tilt offers three cash-back rewards credit cards. Two with no annual fee, and the Tilt Engage Card, which has a $59 annual fee. Here's a breakdown:
Tilt Essentials | Tilt Motion | Tilt Engage | |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $59 |
Cash Back | 3% on gas and groceries (Autopay required) | 1% - 10% cash back at select merchants | 1% - 10% cash back at select merchants |
APR | 29.99% | 28.99% - 33.99% | 28.99 - 33.99% |
Limit Increase Period | As early as 4 months | As early as 4 months | As early as 4 months |
Are There Any Fees?
Tilt does not charge any fees for its credit products. However, there are fees if you choose instant cash advance delivery, and both the line of credit and credit cards incur interest.
How Does Tilt Compare?
Tilt's cash advance offering is very similar to other popular cash advance apps. Dave offers cash advances of up to $500 with quick approval and no interest, late fees, or credit checks. The same goes for Brigit, although its cash advances typically cap out at $250.
Header |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating | |||
Cash Advance Amount | Up to $400 | Up to $500 | Up to $250 |
Interest | |||
Late Fees | |||
Credit Check | |||
Cell |
How Do I Open An Account?
You can get started with opening a Tilt account by downloading the Tilt app or visiting its website.
Is It Safe And Secure?
Yes, Tilt's banking services are provided by NBKC, which is a member FDIC bank. So money that is transferred into your Tilt account is insured by the FDIC up to $250,000.
Tilt also uses 56-bit SSL end-to-end encryption on its website and app. And customers can use multi-factor authentication tools to lock down their accounts further.
Contact
Tilt offers email support at [email protected]. The company address is as follows:
Tilt Finance, Inc.
9169 W State St., PMB 499,
Garden City, ID 83714
Why Should You Trust Us?
We have been following the growing space of cash advance apps since they first emerged about 5 years ago. Since then, we've reviewed and tested many of the cash advance apps in the marketplace - as well as followed the news and controversies that have surrounded several of these products.
Along with cash advance apps, we've also reviewed and compared many of the alternatives, including personal loans and tax advance loans. We've also been comparing and reviewing banks since 2018, and track the best banks for savings and money market accounts daily from a list of over 50 major banks and credit unions.
Furthermore, our compliance team regularly reviews the companies in this comparison to ensure that all rates and terms are accurate.
Who Is This For And Is It Worth It?
If you're looking for quick access to a cash advance, Tilt is one of many cash advance apps worth considering. Its upper cash advance limit of $400 is competitive and in line with other apps, and there are no late fees, interest charges, or other hidden fees to worry about.
However, use caution if you are taking out a Tilt line of credit or credit card. These products charge very high interest rates of up to 35.99% if you do not pay your balance owing on time. These interest charges can add up quickly, even with small balances owing.
Get started with Tilt.
Features
Cash Advance Limits | Up to $400 |
Cashback Rewards | Up to 10% |
Line of Credit Limits | $200 - $400, then up to $1,000 |
Monthly Fees | $0 |
Credit Cards |
|
Credit Check Required | No |
Late Fees | No |
Customer Service Email | |
Mobile App Availability | iOS and Android |
Bill Pay | Unclear |
Banking Partner | |
Promotions | None |
Tilt Review
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Pricing and Fees
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Products and Services
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Ease Of Use
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Customer Service
Overall
Summary
Tilt is a fintech app offering access to cash advances with no late fees, interest, or credit check. It also offers a line of credit and three cash back credit cards.
Pros
- Get approved for a cash advance within minutes
- No credit check required
- No late fees
- No interest (on cash advances)
Cons
- Low credit limits
- Doesn’t offer high-yield savings accounts or investments
- Interest rates on line of credit and credit cards are very high
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.