ACE Cash Express offers payday loans ($100-$2,000), installment loans, check cashing, and financial services at 4+ Austin locations with same-day funding options.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
ACE Cash Express is an established financial services provider operating multiple storefront locations across Austin, Texas, with a physical presence dating back several years. The company specializes in short-term personal lending products designed for consumers facing immediate cash needs, including payday loans and installment loans that can be accessed both online and in-store.
ACE's primary service offerings include payday loans ranging from $100-$2,000 with online application, installment loans up to $2,500 with longer repayment terms than payday products, check cashing, money transfers, money orders, bill payment services, and ATM access. The company also offers prepaid banking products through partnerships with Pathward National Association, including the Porte mobile banking app, Flare Account for online banking, and the ACE Elite Visa prepaid debit card. These banking products are FDIC-insured deposit accounts.
ACE distinguishes itself through its hybrid online-and-physical-location model, allowing customers to apply for loans either digitally or face-to-face at one of four Austin-area store locations. The company provides extended business hours (9 AM-7 PM based on current data) and offers a full suite of financial services beyond lending, positioning itself as a community financial services hub rather than a single-product lender. The Austin market benefits from multiple convenient locations including stores on Riverside Drive, Cameron Road, Stassney Lane, and Wells Branch Parkway.
As an emergency cash lender, ACE serves consumers with urgent financial needs but operates in a highly regulated space with specific state lending restrictions. While the company provides legitimate short-term lending solutions, borrowers should understand that payday and installment loans carry fees and interest rates that can be substantial. The absence of specific APR, fee, or repayment term details on this landing page means consumers must contact stores directly or complete applications to understand true borrowing costs.
See which lenders actually approve borrowers with bad credit. We compared APRs, fees, minimum scores, and funding speed.
Yes. Austin Payday Loans is a registered company headquartered in 3851 Airport Blvd Suite 102, Austin, TX 78722. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
ACE Cash Express is best for Austin-area consumers with immediate short-term cash needs ($100-$2,000) who can repay on their next payday and prefer in-person service or have limited banking alternatives. The primary caveat is that specific loan terms, APR, and fees are not disclosed on this page—borrowers must contact stores or apply to understand true borrowing costs, and payday products carry typical risks of high-cost debt cycles if not repaid immediately.
Austin-based precious metals and jewelry buyer offering free appraisals and same-day cash payouts for gold, silver, diamonds, and luxury watches by appointment.
Best for: Austin-area residents with jewelry, gold, silver, or luxury watches to liquidate for immediate cash, Individuals selling estate jewelry or inherited precious metals without resale intent
B&F Finance is a Texas-based personal installment lender founded in 1973, with 25+ branches across Texas and Oklahoma offering fixed-payment loans funded to your debit card.
Best for: Texas or Oklahoma residents who prefer working with a local branch and in-person loan officer, Borrowers looking for a structured installment loan to replace or avoid high-cost payday loan cycles
Source Capital is a direct hard money lender specializing in short-term real estate loans ($100K-$5M) for investors and property owners across Texas with fast funding and flexible credit requirements.
Best for: Real estate investors seeking quick capital for fix-and-flip projects or rental property acquisitions, Property developers and contractors needing bridge financing between property sales and purchases
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Read guide →New to credit and lending? Here are the key terms used on this page, explained in plain language with real-number examples.
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.
Lenders must 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 cheapest 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.
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.
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.
A special APR calculation used for military servicemembers that includes ALL costs — fees, insurance, and add-ons — capped at 36% by federal law.
The Military Lending Act protects active-duty servicemembers and their families from predatory 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.
The maximum interest rate a lender can legally charge in a particular state. Charging above this rate is called 'usury' and is illegal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
The practice of charging interest rates higher than what the law allows. Usury laws set state-specific caps on how much lenders can charge.
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 might only need to repay the principal — no interest or fees.
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.
Cash advances are a debt trap: 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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