What Is Empower Cash Advance?

What is Empower cash advance?

Last Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Empower’s cash advance lets you borrow $10 to $300 at 0% APR with no interest, credit check, or late fees. Once you link your main checking account, the app reviews your income and spending to decide your limit, sends the money either in minutes or within a few business days, and pulls repayment automatically on your next payday. Only one advance can be outstanding, but paying on time can unlock larger future amounts, and Empower says it will reimburse any overdraft its withdrawal causes.

Using the feature costs an $8 monthly membership after a 14-day free trial. Standard delivery to your bank is free (2–5 business days); instant delivery runs $1–$8, for example $3 on a $50 advance, and the fee is added to what you repay.

To qualify you need to be at least 18, live in a state where the service is offered (not Connecticut, Maryland, or D.C.), maintain an active personal checking account, and show steady income and consistent transactions. There’s no hard credit pull, and meeting Empower’s usage limits—avoiding too many advances in a row—helps keep you eligible.

Does Empower give cash advances?

Yes. Empower lets qualifying members tap a fee-free cash advance of $10–$300 at 0 % APR. Eligibility is based only on activity in your linked checking account—no credit check. Standard delivery to your bank costs nothing but can take 2-5 business days; if you need the money right away you can pay a $1-$8 instant delivery fee to get it in minutes. You can have only one advance out at a time, it’s auto-debited on your next payday (you can repay early), and solid repayment history can raise your future limit. Access to the advance feature sits behind Empower’s $8 monthly membership after a 14-day free trial.

Empower cash advance requirements

Empower cash-advance requirements:

18+ age: You must be at least 18 years old
Right location: Advances aren’t offered in Connecticut, Maryland or Washington, D.C.
Primary checking: Link an active checking account in your own name—the app deposits the advance there and auto-withdraws repayment
Steady deposits: The linked account needs a regular flow of income and consistent activity; Empower bases eligibility on this, not your credit score
Use responsibly: Only one advance can be open at a time, and requesting too many back-to-back can pause your access

Meet these basics and you’re in line for $10–$300 at 0 % APR with no credit check. Choosing the separate Thrive credit-builder line is optional and comes with credit-bureau reporting.

Other features

Besides the paycheck advance, the $8 monthly membership also unlocks several money-management and credit tools you can run from the same app.

Automatic savings

Turn on AutoSave, pick a goal, and Empower studies your income and spending to move only what you can spare into an FDIC-insured account—no manual transfers needed.

Budgeting & spend tracking

Every swipe is auto-tagged into categories so you can see where your cash goes, set custom limits, and get real-time nudges when a category is heading off-track.

Credit-builder line (Thrive)

Eligible users can open a $200–$400 line of credit that may grow to $1,000 with on-time payments. Monthly payments are reported to all three bureaus, giving you a shot at strengthening thin or damaged credit.

Credit-score monitoring

Check your score right in the app, get instant alerts to big changes, and see plain-language advice on what’s helping or hurting it.

Extra credit offers

As your repayment history builds, Empower can offer additional revolving credit or even credit-card lines, letting you tap more spending power without leaving the platform.

Empower app review

By Editorial Team