Dave in Los Angeles, CA

Dave is a Los Angeles-based fintech founded in 2017 and publicly traded (NASDAQ: DAVE) that combines banking services with small-dollar cash advances. The company was founded specifically to help people avoid overdraft fees and payday loans.

Dave's ExtraCash feature lets you borrow up to $500 instantly with no interest, no credit check, and no mandatory fees. You can tip Dave voluntarily (the company suggests amounts but $0 is an option). The advance is automatically repaid from your next paycheck. To access the full $500, you need direct deposit set up with Dave's checking account.

Dave's checking account has no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and no overdraft fees. You can get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit. The Dave Debit Mastercard works at any merchant and ATMs.

The app includes automatic budgeting that predicts upcoming bills and warns you before your balance gets dangerously low — the original feature that gave Dave its name (named after the friend who spots you money).

Dave charges $1/month for the banking membership. The ExtraCash feature is included in this membership. There's also an optional express delivery fee ($1.99-$13.99) if you want the advance instantly instead of waiting 1-3 business days.

Dave is ideal for people living paycheck to paycheck who need occasional small-dollar help between paychecks without resorting to payday loans. It's a legitimate, regulated alternative to predatory short-term lending.