Current Paycheck Advance 2025 Review: How It Works and Who’s Eligible

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Paycheck Advance

• Instantly access some of your payday fund early for a fee, within 3 days for free
• No hard credit check required, but financial history considered for eligibility
• Checking account features
• Credit-building card available
• 24/7 customer support
• Available in 50 states

• At least $500 in monthly direct payroll deposits required
• Can’t change the speed of funding once you’ve selected it
• App only
• Instant transfer fee not disclosed

Funding	$50 – $750
Speed of transfer	Instant (for a fee) – 3 days (free)
Fees	Undisclosed

Current offers a mobile banking experience with checking features, a credit-building card, high-yield savings pods, and even cryptocurrency trading—but one of its standout perks is the interest-free paycheck advance of up to $750.

While it’s a solid option if you’re already using Current for banking or credit building, it may not be the best pick if you’re strictly looking for a fast cash advance. Other apps like EarnIn may be more competitive on speed, flexibility, and transparency. Below, we’ll walk through how the paycheck advance works and where Current fits in overall.

Table of Contents

1. What is the Current app?
2. How does the Current paycheck advance work?
   1. Is it the same as early paycheck access?
   2. Is it a cash advance app?
   3. Is it a payday loan?
   4. How do you repay it?
3. Eligibility
4. Pros and cons
5. Customer reviews
6. Current vs. other cash advance apps

What is the Current app?

Current is a mobile banking app that combines several financial tools in one place: a spending account, a secured credit card, high-yield savings “pods,” crypto investing, and a paycheck advance feature. Users can earn rewards, build credit, and even access up to $750 of their paycheck early with no interest.

Here’s a quick look at what Current offers:

• Spend: A checking account paired with a secured Build Card to help establish credit. Includes perks like early paycheck access, overdraft protection, and cashback rewards.
• Save: Up to three Savings Pods earn a 4.00% bonus (with qualifying direct deposit), capped at $6,000 total.
• Invest: Trade crypto with no fees, starting with as little as $1.
• Advance: Access a portion of your paycheck before payday—instantly (for a fee) or within three days for free.

It’s a well-rounded app with several financial tools built in—but the paycheck advance stands out for those needing fast access to cash they’ve already earned. Let’s take a closer look at how that works.

How does the Current paycheck advance work?

Current’s Paycheck Advance feature lets eligible users access $50 to $750 of their paycheck before payday. To qualify, you need at least $500 in direct deposits sent to your Current account each month.

You can choose to receive the funds within three business days for free, or instantly for a fee (amount not disclosed). When your paycheck hits, Current automatically deducts the advance amount and deposits the rest into your account. There’s no interest or hard credit check, but your financial habits with Current can affect your future eligibility.

Is it the same as early paycheck access?

Not quite. Early paycheck access means getting your full paycheck up to two days early through direct deposit. The paycheck advance is a short-term loan against your next paycheck—Current gives you part of it early, then deducts it once your check arrives.

Is it a cash advance app?

Current is a mobile banking app that happens to offer a paycheck advance. It’s not a dedicated cash advance app like EarnIn or Empower, which are often more flexible and fee-transparent.

That said, EarnIn and Empower are compatible with Current, so you can link your Current account to them if you prefer their style of paycheck advances.

Is it a payday loan?

No. A payday loan typically comes with high interest rates and short repayment windows. Current’s advance is interest-free, doesn’t require a credit check, and automatically repays itself when your paycheck hits. It’s closer to a no-interest, short-term loan than anything predatory.

How do you repay it?

You don’t need to do anything. Current automatically takes the borrowed amount out of your paycheck as soon as it lands in your account, then deposits the remaining balance. There’s no manual repayment or separate due date to track.

Who’s eligible for a Current paycheck advance?

To qualify for a paycheck advance through Current, you must meet a few basic requirements tied to your account activity—most importantly, you’ll need to receive at least $500 in monthly direct payroll deposits into your Current account.

While there’s no hard credit check, Current may consider your financial history and account behavior to determine how much you can borrow.

Requirement	Details
Citizenship	Must have a U.S. address and valid Social Security number
Employment status	You must be employed and receive direct deposits from your employer
State of residence	Available in all 50 U.S. states
Minimum age	18 years or older
Minimum credit score	None
Minimum income	No income requirement for general use, but $500/month in payroll deposits is required for advances

Pros and cons of the Current app paycheck advance

Unsure whether the Current app paycheck advance is right for you? Let’s break down the pros and cons.

Pros

• App offers safe credit building

  Use the autopay feature to ensure on-time payments for Build Card; Current reports on-time payments to TransUnion, which can boost your credit score.

• Checking account features with app use

  The Spend account comes with a secured credit card but also offers helpful checking features, including fee-free overdraft, early paycheck access, cashback rewards, and mobile check deposits.

• Interest-free payday advances

  Payday advances don’t accrue interest, you simply repay the amount borrowed when your paycheck lands.

Cons

• Instant access fee undisclosed

  It’s great that you can get part or all of your paycheck within minutes, but you will pay a fee. However, Current doesn’t disclose what that fee is.

• High direct deposit requirement

  You need monthly direct deposits of $500 or more to access core benefits.

• App only

  Current has no physical locations, and you can’t manage the account online. You can only access Current via mobile app.

Is Current legit? A look at customer reviews

Reading Current app reviews by actual customers can help you decide whether it’s a fit. Here’s how users rate the app:

Source	Customer rating	Number of reviews
Trustpilot	4.4/5	11,602
Google Play Store	4.6/5	166K
Apple App Store	4.8/5	157.1K
Better Business Bureau (BBB)	2.92/5	74

Many users are pleased with the app, praising its convenience and speed. Several reviews on BBB mention technical issues with Current, but the number of BBB reviews is much lower than that of any other platform.

How Current compares to other apps

Current isn’t the only mobile banking app that features a paycheck or cash advance feature. Here’s how Current compares to similar alternatives:

• Current vs. Chime MyPay: ChimeMyPay is very similar to Current in that it’s part of a larger mobile banking platform that provides customers with features like checking and savings accounts, overdraft protection, and credit-builder cards—just like Currently. However, ChimeMyPay is not available in 17 states, where Current is available in 50.
• Current vs. Varo: Varo is another similar mobile banking app that offers cash advances. You may have the ability to advance slightly more through Current than Varo—Varo’s maximum limit is $500, where Current’s is $750. In addition, Varo’s fees can reach up to $40 for a cash advance.

How to use the Current app

Take the following steps to use the entire Current app, including paycheck advance.

1. Download the app. You can download the app from your smartphone or visit Current’s website, enter your phone number, and get a text with the next steps.
2. Verify your phone number. Current will text you to confirm your phone number. Enter the six-digit code to proceed.
3. Enter personal information. To create an account, enter information such as your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.
4. Fund the account. You can transfer money into the account by adding a funding source in the app, such as an external bank account. To add cash to your account, you can also visit participating retailers, such as CVS and Walmart. Money in your account serves as your Build Card’s spending limit and lets you purchase cryptocurrency.
5. Set up direct deposit. You can set up direct deposit in the app or supply your account and routing number to your employer. Once you get qualifying direct deposits, you can access Current’s Paycheck Advance.
6. Set up Savings Pods. To take advantage of the bonus payout for savings, create up to three Savings Pods and start saving for longer-term goals.

FAQ

Can I trust the Current app?

Yes, Current is a legitimate financial technology company that provides modern banking services. The app is backed by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, which insures deposits up to $250,000. Current employs various security measures, such as encryption and fraud detection, to protect your personal and financial information.

Does the Current app help build credit?

Yes. Current’s flagship product is the Spend account, which comes with a Build Credit secured credit card to help you build credit. It reports on-time payments to TransUnion.

Can I use my Current card with no money?

No, you can’t use your Current card without money in your account. The Current card functions like a traditional debit card, meaning you need sufficient funds in your account to make purchases.

However, Current offers an Overdrive feature, which allows eligible users to overdraft their account up to $200 without fees, providing a temporary buffer when funds are low.

Does Current work with Chime?

Yes, Chime and Current can be synced up and work well together. Link your Chime account with Current, or visa versa. Both companies use Plaid, which allows banking customers to connect their financial accounts to apps and services securely.

Does Current work with Zelle?

Yes, Current can support Zelle. Although Current is not a bank, it partners with Choice Financial Group to offer banking services. Through its collaboration with Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Current users can link their accounts with Zelle. It’s a bit indirect, but this setup allows Current members to send and receive money using Zelle. 

Does Current work with Cash App?

Yes, Current works with Cash App. You can link your Current account to Cash App by adding your Current debit card details. Transfers between your Current account and Cash App should be nearly instant, though the exact timing can vary depending on the sender of the funds.

How do you transfer money from Current to Cash App?

To transfer money from Current to Cash App, start by linking your Current account. Open Cash App, navigate to the “Banking” tab, and select “Link Bank.” Enter your Current account and routing numbers to connect your account.

Once your account is linked, you can transfer money using your Current debit card. In Cash App, tap “Add Cash,” enter the desired amount, and choose to add a debit card. Input your Current card details and complete the transfer. You can move money between the two platforms by linking your current account or card to Cash App.

How we rated Current

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best cash apps. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Current to several cash apps, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below.