Arizona Central logo

Arizona Central

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Arizona Central (azcentral.com) is a digital news publication covering Arizona politics, local events, sports, and weather—not a financial services or lending company.

Data compiled from public sources

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Arizona Central Review

Arizona Central, operated by The Arizona Republic, is a major regional news outlet serving Phoenix and the broader Arizona market. The website functions as a digital news platform delivering breaking news, investigative reporting, and community coverage across politics, local government, crime, sports, entertainment, travel, and business sections. The platform offers content in both English and Spanish (La Voz section) and provides interactive features like crosswords, obituaries, lottery results, and event listings. Arizona Central generates revenue through digital subscriptions, advertising, and sponsored content—standard newspaper business models. The site contains no lending products, credit services, financial counseling, or alternative financial services of any kind. There is no evidence of payday loan alternatives, credit union PALs, employer advances, or any products falling under the 'payday-alternatives' category. The miscategorization appears to stem from a database error or URL confusion, as azcentral.com is exclusively a news publication.

As a financial institution, this lender competes with both traditional banks and newer fintech personal loan lenders in the consumer lending space. Borrowers seeking personal loans for bad credit may find more flexible terms through online lenders, while those focused on simplifying payments may benefit from debt consolidation loans with fixed rates. Credit union installment loans and CDFI products typically offer APRs well below payday rates, with structured repayment over several months.

Services & Features

Breaking news coverage
Business news and local economy reporting
Digital crossword puzzles
Entertainment and lifestyle content
Investigative journalism
Local Phoenix and Arizona reporting
Lottery results and weather updates
Obituary listings
Spanish-language news (La Voz)
Sports coverage and analysis
Travel guides and recommendations
eNewspaper subscriptions

Feature Checklist

Mobile App
Online Portal
Score Tracking
Credit Education
Personal Advisor
Identity Theft Protection

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Free access to breaking Arizona news and investigative reporting
  • Bilingual content available in English and Spanish
  • Comprehensive local coverage of Phoenix metro area events and politics
  • Mobile-friendly digital platform with daily updates
  • listed credibility context as part of USA Today Network

Cons

  • Not a financial services provider—completely miscategorized
  • No lending products, credit services, or financial assistance available
  • Paywall restrictions limit full article access for some subscribers
  • No relevant financial tools or calculators for consumer finance needs

Compare Personal Loan Options

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Bad Credit Loan Guide Payday Alternatives

Mortgage Lending Transparency

Arizona Central processed 929 mortgage applications in 2023, with 54.5% recorded as approved across 1 states.

929

Applications

54.5%

Approval Rate

$109K

Avg Loan

1

States Served

Approval Rate by Applicant Income

Under $50K
16.7%
$50K–$100K
54.1%
$100K–$200K
64.4%
Over $200K
66.7%

Based on 929 applications. Income in thousands (reported by applicant).

States With Recorded Applications

Arizona 929 apps · 54.3%

Source: CFPB Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Data, 2023. Applications include originated, approved, and denied loans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does Arizona Central offer?

Arizona Central offers 12 services including Breaking news coverage, Investigative journalism, Local Phoenix and Arizona reporting, Sports coverage and analysis, Entertainment and lifestyle content, and 7 more.

What profile signals are listed for Arizona Central?

Arizona Central has profile signals associated with Arizona residents seeking local news and political updates, Phoenix metro area community members researching local events, Spanish-language readers wanting Arizona news coverage.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Arizona Central?

Key strengths: Free access to breaking Arizona news and investigative reporting; Bilingual content available in English and Spanish; Comprehensive local coverage of Phoenix metro area events and politics. Areas to consider: Not a financial services provider—completely miscategorized; No lending products, credit services, or financial assistance available.

How does Arizona Central compare to similar companies?

In the Payday Alternatives category, comparable providers include BMG Money, Business Consortium Fund, Kashable. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.

Quick Facts

Founded
1939
Headquarters
,
BBB Accredited
No
Certifications
NCUA Insured Charter #62881
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CreditDoc Profile Note

Research Note on Arizona Central

Arizona Central is a NEWS PUBLICATION, not a financial services company, and should not be listed in any consumer finance database. This is a categorization error requiring immediate correction and removal from the 'payday-alternatives' category.

Profile Signals

  • Arizona residents seeking local news and political updates
  • Phoenix metro area community members researching local events
  • Spanish-language readers wanting Arizona news coverage
Updated 2026-05-08

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BMG Money logo

BMG Money

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Google rating from 4,841 reviews

BBB: A+

Profile signals: Government employees, hospital workers, and school district staff whose employers partner with BMG Money for payroll deduction loans, Federal employees and retirees seeking allotment-based loans with automatic repayment

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Business Consortium Fund logo

Business Consortium Fund

Nonprofit CDFI lender offering business term loans from $25K and lines of credit from $100K to minority-owned and underserved small businesses since 1985.

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Profile signals: Minority-owned small businesses with $100K+ annual revenue seeking $25K–$100K+ in working capital, Businesses with active corporate or government contracts needing capital to fulfill purchase orders

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Kashable logo

Kashable

Kashable offers employer-sponsored short-term loans integrated with payroll systems, providing low-cost credit to employees as a voluntary workplace benefit.

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Profile signals: Employees at large employers offering Kashable as a workplace benefit seeking short-term emergency financing, Federal employees with stable income seeking low-cost credit alternatives with automatic payroll repayment

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Quick Summary

  • Arizona Central is listed as a Payday Alternatives provider on CreditDoc.
  • Use this page to check contact details, location, listed services, review signals, FAQs, and similar providers before deciding what to do next.
  • If you need a loan, account, installment option, credit help, or debt support, start with the fit quiz and compare alternatives before contacting a provider.
  • For broader context, continue into the free Credit Fundamentals course or a relevant financial wellness guide.

Next Steps

Find contact or location Check phone, address, map, and website availability. Check specific services See whether the provider lists the help you need. Review fit context Use the quiz to compare category, service, and public-rating fields. Compare alternatives Review similar providers before making contact. Improve your position What Is a Good Credit Score and Why Your Tier Matters (2026) Learn the basics Start the free Credit Fundamentals course.

Financial Wellness Guides

What Is a Good Credit Score and Why Your Tier Matters (2026)

Learn exactly how credit score tiers work, what range you fall into, and the specific steps to move up to the next tier where better rates and approvals wait.

Read guide →

How to Check Your Credit Score for Free Without Hurting It

Learn exactly how to check your credit score for free using legitimate sources, understand the difference between soft and hard inquiries, and know your rights under federal law.

Read guide →

How Credit Scores Are Calculated: Every Factor Explained

A plain-language breakdown of every factor that goes into your credit score, with specific steps to improve each one even if you're starting from a tough spot.

Read guide →

Free Credit Fundamentals Course

Learn how credit scores work, how to dispute errors, and build credit from scratch. 10 modules, zero cost.

Borrowing Power Quiz

Find out how much you could borrow in 60 seconds. Free, private, no credit impact.
Financial Terms Explained (10 terms)

New to credit and lending? Here are the key terms used on this page, explained in plain language with real-number examples.

Interest & Rates

APR — Annual Percentage Rate

The total yearly cost of borrowing money, including the interest rate plus any fees the lender charges. Think of it as the 'true price tag' on a loan.

Why it matters

Lenders are required to show APR by law (Truth in Lending Act) because the interest rate alone can hide fees. Comparing APR across lenders is the most reliable way to find the lower-cost loan.

Example

You borrow $10,000 at 6% interest for 3 years, but there's a $300 origination fee. The interest rate is 6%, but the APR is 6.9% because it includes that fee. You'd pay $304/month and $946 total in interest.

Compound Interest

Interest calculated on both the original amount borrowed AND the interest that's already been added. It's 'interest on interest' — and it makes debt grow faster than you'd expect.

Why it matters

Credit cards and many loans use compound interest. If you only make minimum payments, compound interest is why a $3,000 balance can take 15 years to pay off.

Example

You owe $1,000 at 20% annual interest compounded monthly. After month 1 you owe $1,016.67. Month 2, interest is charged on $1,016.67 (not $1,000), so you owe $1,033.61. After 1 year without payments: $1,219.

MAPR — Military Annual Percentage Rate

A special APR calculation used for military servicemembers that includes ALL costs — fees, insurance, and add-ons — capped at 36% by federal law.

Why it matters

The Military Lending Act protects active-duty servicemembers and their families from high-cost lending. Any lender charging above 36% MAPR to military is breaking federal law.

Example

A payday lender charges a $15 fee per $100 borrowed for 2 weeks. For civilians, that's technically legal in some states. For military: that works out to 391% MAPR — illegal under the MLA.

Usury Rate — Usury Rate (Interest Rate Cap)

The maximum interest rate a lender can legally charge in a particular state. Charging above this rate is called 'usury' and is illegal.

Why it matters

Usury laws are your main legal protection against predatory interest rates. But beware: some states have weak or no usury caps, and federal banks can sometimes override state limits.

Example

New York caps interest at 16% for most consumer loans (25% is criminal usury). If a lender tries to charge you 30% in NY, that loan is unenforceable — you could fight it in court.

How Loans Work

Collateral — Loan Collateral

An asset you pledge to the lender as security for a loan. If you stop paying, the lender can seize and sell that asset to recover their money.

Why it matters

Secured loans (with collateral) have lower interest rates because the lender has less risk. But you could lose your home, car, or savings if you default.

Example

A mortgage uses your house as collateral. A car loan uses your vehicle. A title loan uses your car title. If you miss payments, the lender can foreclose or repossess.

Fees & Costs

Late Fee — Late Payment Fee

A charge added to your account when you miss a payment deadline. Most credit cards charge $29-$41 per late payment, and many loans have similar penalties.

Why it matters

The fee itself hurts, but the real damage is to your credit score. A payment 30+ days late stays on your credit report for 7 years and can drop your score 60-110 points.

Example

Your credit card payment of $150 is due March 1. You pay on March 18. The bank charges a $39 late fee. If it's 30+ days late, it gets reported to credit bureaus and your 760 score drops to 670.

NSF Fee — Non-Sufficient Funds Fee

A fee your bank charges when a payment bounces because there isn't enough money in your account. Also called a 'bounced check fee' or 'returned payment fee.'

Why it matters

NSF fees hit you twice — your bank charges you AND the company you were trying to pay may charge their own returned payment fee. That's $50-70 for one missed payment.

Example

Your auto-pay tries to pull $350 for rent, but you only have $280 in checking. Your bank charges $35 NSF fee. Your landlord charges $25 returned payment fee. Total damage: $60 in fees.

Legal Terms

Usury — Usury (Illegal Interest)

The practice of charging interest rates higher than what the law allows. Usury laws set state-specific caps on how much lenders can charge.

Why it matters

If a lender charges usurious rates, the loan may be void, penalties can be reduced, or you may be entitled to damages. Know your state's limits.

Example

Your state caps consumer loans at 24% APR. An online lender charges you 36%. That loan may be unenforceable, and you may only be required to repay the principal — no interest or fees.

Credit Cards

Cash Advance — Credit Card Cash Advance

Using your credit card to get cash from an ATM or bank. It's one of the most expensive ways to borrow — higher interest rate, immediate interest accrual (no grace period), and an upfront fee.

Why it matters

Cash advances are a repeat-borrowing risk: 25-30% APR with no grace period plus a 3-5% fee. Interest starts the second you withdraw, not at the end of the billing cycle.

Example

You take a $500 cash advance. Fee: $25 (5%). Interest: 28% APR starting immediately. After 30 days, you owe $536.67. After 6 months of minimum payments, you've paid $85 in interest on $500.

Want to learn more? Read our Financial Wellness Guides for in-depth explanations and practical advice.

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