Honest Review: Blue Mountain Loans for Bad Credit Borrowers
What Blue Mountain Loans Offers
Blue Mountain Loans provides installment loans ranging from $200 to $1,200 for new customers. The company claims to offer repayment terms between 3 and 18 months. As a tribal lender owned by the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians (through Loan Spot, a Kashia Services subsidiary), Blue Mountain Loans operates outside typical state lending laws. The application process reportedly does not require a credit check, making it accessible to borrowers with bad or poor credit who may be turned down elsewhere. However, key details such as origination fees, late fees, NSF (non-sufficient funds) fees, and funding speed are not disclosed. This lack of transparency is a concern, especially for borrowers already facing financial stress.
The Real Cost: APRs and Repayment Examples
Blue Mountain Loans advertises APRs ranging from 59.99% to 299.99%, but third-party sources report APRs as high as 660%. This means borrowing from Blue Mountain Loans can be extremely expensive—often costing several times the original loan amount in interest alone. For example:
- Borrow $500: repay $3,317 over 12 months (that’s $2,817 in interest)
- Borrow $1,000: repay $6,634 over 12 months ($5,634 in interest)
- Borrow $2,500: repay $16,586 over 12 months ($14,086 in interest)
These numbers are far higher than typical payday loans, credit cards, or even other subprime lenders. If you have any access to a credit union, payday alternative loan, or even a secured loan, those options will almost always be less expensive.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Consider Blue Mountain Loans
Blue Mountain Loans is aimed at borrowers with poor or no credit who can’t qualify for traditional loans. The lack of a credit check may be appealing if you’ve been denied elsewhere, and the online application process is likely quick. However, the cost is so high that this option should only be considered if you have absolutely no other choices and need a small amount of cash to cover a true emergency. Anyone with access to lower-cost credit—such as credit union loans, payday alternative loans, or even borrowing from friends or family—should avoid this lender.
Ratings, Reputation, and Borrower Complaints
Blue Mountain Loans has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and it is not BBB accredited. All BBB reviews found are 1-star, with borrowers consistently reporting extremely high repayment costs and describing the lender as predatory. Trustpilot does not have any available reviews for this company. In complaints, borrowers mention that the total amount paid back was far higher than they expected, with some feeling trapped by the high interest rates and confusing loan terms. The lack of any positive customer feedback is a stark red flag.
Red Flags: Regulatory Actions and Missing Information
Blue Mountain Loans is part of the Kashia Services group. There are consumer alerts about this group from the Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) also lists them for oversight. These regulatory actions and warnings are a sign that state authorities have concerns about the lender’s practices or compliance. There are also significant gaps in Blue Mountain Loans’ disclosures: key fees, funding speed, and whether they report to credit bureaus are not stated. This lack of transparency—combined with sky-high APRs and borrower complaints—should make any borrower cautious.
The Bottom Line: Pros and Cons of Blue Mountain Loans
If you have bad or poor credit and are truly out of options, Blue Mountain Loans will consider your application without a credit check and may fund loans as small as $200. However, the costs are extreme: you could pay back five or six times what you borrow, with APRs as high as 660%. The F BBB rating, serious complaints, regulatory alerts, and lack of key disclosures all point to a risky and potentially damaging borrowing experience. If you’re considering Blue Mountain Loans because you feel you have no other choice, take a close look at the numbers and try to exhaust every alternative first—especially credit union payday alternative loans, which cap APRs and offer more transparent terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will I really pay if I borrow from Blue Mountain Loans?
At the highest reported APR of 660%, you could pay back over $3,300 on a $500 loan in 12 months. That means more than $2,800 in interest—over six times what you borrowed. Even at lower APRs, these loans are far more expensive than most alternatives.
Does Blue Mountain Loans check my credit?
Blue Mountain Loans does not state that it checks credit, and it is marketed as a no-credit-check lender. This means your credit score won’t affect approval, but also means the lender is charging extremely high rates to offset risk.
Are there better alternatives if I have bad credit?
Yes—credit union payday alternative loans (PALs) are designed for people with poor credit and have capped APRs, making them much more affordable. You could also consider secured loans, assistance programs, or borrowing from friends or family before turning to high-cost lenders like Blue Mountain Loans.
This review is for informational purposes only. AurelisIQ does not endorse any lender. Always verify terms directly with the lender before borrowing.