FAQs
FAQs by the Alphabet
Accreditation
JFLA is a 501C3 non-profit registered with the IRS since 1904 and listed on Guidestar, Charity Navigator, and Great Nonprofits.
Borrower
Borrowers from LA, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties can qualify for all kinds of loans. If you do not see what you are looking for, ask us.
Credit Reporting
JFLA does not report to credit bureaus.
Direct deposit
Direct deposit and auto-deduction make loans and make monthly loan repayments easy. Download the Auto Deduction form here.
Exclusions
JFLA does not make loans for back taxes, travel expense for leisure, student loan debt, and some legal fees.
Free
Free means that there are no service or interest costs associated with your loan. Pay back exactly what you borrow.
Guarantor
Sometimes referred to as a co-signer, a guarantor is a person who will sign on the loan to agree to pay it back if you do not. A guarantor can be a friend, family member, a neighbor or co-worker who is at least 25 years old, is a California resident, and has a credit score of 680 or better. Guarantors will need to provide documentation.
Housing
Loans for housing include rent, back-rent, security deposits, first and last months' deposits, moving costs, and Sections 8 needs.
Identification
Be prepared to upload identification and documents to support your loan application: California ID, SSN, and proof of need. Your guarantor will also need to upload documents.
Jewish
The “Jewish” in Jewish Free Loan refers to a foundational idea in the bible that the charging of interest on a loan to a person in need, is not in his or her best interest and is therefore, prohibited. JFLA applies the wisdom of that idea to all its clients, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, race, ability, gender, etc.
Keep
Keep more of your own money by working with an interest-free non-profit lender like JFLA.
Loan amounts
Our loans range from $1,000 to $15,000 for personal and emergency loans. We make fertility loans up to $20,000 and business loans up to $36,000. See our Loan Table for details.
Monthly payments
Clients, or borrowers, make monthly payments to repay their loans in in 24-36 months.
Need
Please be prepared to demonstrate your need for a loan with a bill, a receipt, or other document.
Opportunity
Opportunity to borrow, without going further into debt by having to pay high interest fees, is what JFLA offers.
Process
There are five basic steps to the JFLA loan process: 1. choose a loan and see if you are eligible; 2. identify a guarantor if necessary; 3. Fill out the pre-loan application on line by clicking Apply Now; 4. A member of our team will reach out to you for next steps and to set up a virtual interview; 5. Upload all required documents and wait for loan approval.
Questions
The loan process raises many questions. Email us at info@jfla.org to ask yours.
Renewal
You can renew your loan one month after your current loan is paid in full. Student loans can be renewed one time per year.
Signatures
Since March 2020, JFLA offers eSignature, a way to sign electronically on different devices no matter where you are.
Terms
The terms of the loan are simple: Repayment starts 30-45 days after the loan check is issued, and that you pay back exactly what you borrow. For more details, please consult a member of the JFLA team.
Unique
JFLA is as a unique nonprofit, offering cash in hand to people who cannot get a traditional loan.
Virtual
A member of our team will contact you to schedule a virtual interview after your pre-loan, on-line application is received.
Website
Apply, donate, and find answers to your questions on the JFLA website, jfla.org
X
X marks the spot for your eSignature. We use DocuSign for all signatures.
Yelp
Please leave us a positive Yelp review so we can get the word out to assist more people.
Zero
Zero interest is another way of saying interest-free. Zero is also the amount you will pay in fees to get your loan at JFLA.