Monday 31 December 2012

What You Want to Recognize About Those Indian Native American Loans

By Stanley Christopher


For the working poor, pay day loans can be a necessary part of their life. In the present economy, financial constraints have meant greater reliance on this expensive debt instrument. First established in Tennessee in 1993, lenders who offer this financing vehicle have now become a multibillion dollar industry. Indian Tribal Loans are a new portion of this trade.

They are essentially a partnership between payday lenders and tribes whose sovereignty gives the business a refuge from consumer protection laws. As a result there has been much criticism of this new vehicle since some loans have been found to carry a higher than average interest rate burden. This is the case even though Native Americans are borrowers of this type of debt instrument. But for poor tribes this business is seen primarily as an income generator.

The fundamental formula is a high interest, small, short term loan with a potential for rollover and an income stream for the creditor. The average amount loaned is about 300 dollars. Borrowers provide a postdated check or an account withdrawal authorization. In return, they receive cash for a fee. Typically fees range from 15 to 20 dollars per 100 dollar amount borrowed.

If the term is under a month, typical interest charged is the equivalent of an annual rate of over 300 to 500 percent. In order to avoid an untenable position, borrowers should pay off the amount quickly. Failure to pay leads to late fees and renewals. This increases the onerous burden.

In many cases the business model promotes continuation of the cycle. The outcome is a very expensive form of credit for consumers who are most vulnerable. But this technique has grown for a reason. There is a market in customers ignored by banks. These are the about 25 percent of households who are underbanked or unbanked. Minorities constitute major users as more than 50 percent of African-Americans and more than 40 percent of Hispanics and Native Americans are in this group.

As the California school district Capital Appreciation Bond scandal reveals high interest financing schemes are a mainstream mechanism. The feature such bonds and payday loans share is a potential for an exorbitant bill. Hence a school district is due to cough up over 55 million on a 4 million borrowing and another almost a billion dollars on an amount of almost a hundred million. Consider over 200 districts have to pay these bills and California is only thirty percent of the market.

It is claimed that unscrupulous lenders have found a cover under tribal sovereignty. In essence this refuge provides an on shore off shore residency. Other lenders have also use off shore bases and the internet to avoid state regulations. Tribes have an interest in protecting their independence and their people by weeding out the unscrupulous.

There are more and more people in need of short term liquidity to make ends meet. They have few choices. This is why despite the added expense the industry has bloomed. Check cashing operators, Indian tribal loans and subprime credit cards are the maintain stays for a growing base of customers base. In an era of limited income and jobs prospects, there is no sign of less need for such mechanisms. Consumers must carefully read the terms. They must not commit when they know they cannot pay back what they would borrow.




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