About MDG

A direct lender since 1991, making small loans to people the largest banks decline by default. This page covers how we decide, how we make money, and what we hold ourselves to.

Check your rate See all products

Last updated 15 September 2026Figures as of 15 September 2026

Lending since

1991

Lender type

Direct, not a broker

Loans

$200 – $5,000

APR ceiling

35.95%

Who we lend to, and why

MDG has financed everyday purchases and short-term cash needs for American households since 1991. We lend our own money, make our own credit decisions, and service the loans ourselves. We are not a broker, a lead generator or a matching service, and we do not sell your application on to a network of other lenders.

Our customers are mostly people the largest banks decline by default: hourly workers, gig earners, single-income households and anyone whose credit file carries a few scars. Everyone is considered on their own merits. That does not mean everyone is approved, and we would rather say so plainly than advertise guaranteed approval that does not exist.

The loans are small on purpose. $200 to $5,000 over 2 to 24 months covers a car repair, a deductible or a replacement refrigerator, and it finishes. We do not offer the kind of open-ended borrowing that never reaches zero.

In brief

Lending in the United States since 1991.
Loans from $200 to $5,000, at 18.00% to 35.95% APR.
A hard APR ceiling below the 36% Military Lending Act limit.
Licensed state by state, with every licence listed on our licensing page.
Information security certified to ISO/IEC 27001.

How we make money, stated plainly

Most lending websites never answer this. It explains more about our incentives than any mission statement would.

We earn from interest

Almost all of our revenue is the interest on loans that are repaid as agreed. That is why affordability matters to us commercially, not only ethically: a borrower who cannot sustain the schedule is a loss, not a profit.

We do not earn from failure

We charge no origination fee, no application fee and no prepayment penalty. Returned payment and late fees exist because a failed debit has a real cost, not as a revenue line, and we would rather move a payment date than collect one.

It also explains why several pages on this site send you elsewhere. A borrower who took a cheaper credit union loan and came back to us years later is worth more than one who felt pushed into something they did not need.

How we decide

Underwriting is done in-house and in real time. A person can review any decision on request.

Income before score

We publish no minimum credit score. Verifiable recurring income and clean recent banking activity carry as much weight as the number.

Affordability, not appetite

The question is whether this payment fits alongside your existing commitments, not the largest sum we could justify lending you.

Human review on request

No application is decided by an automated system with no route to a person. Ask, and someone will look at it.

Reasons, in writing

Every decline comes with an adverse action notice naming the principal reasons, as the law requires and because it is useful to know.

What we commit to

These are operational commitments, not slogans. If we fall short of one, that is a legitimate complaint and we will treat it as one.

Your APR, every payment and your total cost are disclosed before you sign.
We never charge a fee to check your rate.
We do not roll loans over or refinance you into new debt to collect fees.
We report payment activity accurately, and correct it promptly when we are wrong.

If your circumstances change, contact us before you miss a payment and we will look at the options.
We tell you when another product, or another lender, would serve you better.
We do not advertise guaranteed approval, because nobody can guarantee it.
Product availability and terms may vary by location and eligibility.

For information about product availability and transaction disclosures, see our licensing and disclosures page. Our content standards page explains how website information and corrections are handled.

About MDG

How long has MDG been lending?

Since 1991, financing everyday purchases and short-term cash needs for households in the United States.

Is MDG a direct lender or a broker?

A direct lender. We lend our own money, underwrite in-house and service the loans ourselves. Applications are not sold on to a network of other lenders.

How does MDG make money?

Almost entirely from interest on loans repaid as agreed. We charge no origination fee, no application fee and no prepayment penalty.

Who does MDG lend to?

Mostly borrowers the largest banks decline by default, including hourly workers, gig earners and people whose credit file carries past problems. Everyone is considered, though not everyone is approved.

Does a human ever review my application?

Yes. Underwriting is automated for speed, but any decision can be reviewed by a person on request, and every decline comes with a written explanation of the principal reasons.

Where can I request verified licensing information?

Email [email protected] and ask for the information that applies to your location, application or agreement. Do not rely on an unverified number or entity name.

Everything on this page links back to the product pages and disclosures it refers to.