First Loan vs Rescue Bucks
Both are tribal installment lenders charging triple-digit APRs, so this is not a contest of good options — it is about which is less expensive and less risky. First Loan scores higher (2.1 vs 1.8), but the right pick depends on what you need.
| Feature | First Loan | Rescue Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| Our score (/10) | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| APR range | 400–780% | 589–829% |
| Loan amounts | $200–$1,500 | $200–$1,500 |
| Product | installment | installment |
| Owning tribe | Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians | Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians |
| Lending since | 2018 | 2021 |
Pick First Loan if…
- Lower maximum APR (780% vs 829%)
- Longer track record (lending since 2018)
- Higher overall score (2.1 vs 1.8)
Our take on each
A class action alleges First Loan is run from an Oregon IP address about 1,000 miles from the Elem reservation whose name it uses — and that the tribe is a "straw owner" taking under 2% of revenue.
Rescue Bucks advertises APRs of 589% to 829%. A borrower’s BBB complaint documents a loan priced at 890% — above the ceiling the company publishes about itself. When a lender’s own advertised maximum understates what a customer was actually charged, the disclosed range stops being a promise and starts being marketing.