South Branch Lending Active
Menominee Indian Tribe · lending since 2022
Third-party sites circulate a reassuring "4.95–35.95% APR" for South Branch Lending — the real figure is 630–780%, and it publishes a same-day funding cutoff but almost nothing about the rate.
South Branch Lending at a glance
Active- Owning tribe
- Menominee Indian Tribe
- Lending since
- 2022
- Loan amounts
- $300–$2,000
- APR range
- 400–780%
- Product
- installment
- Website
- southbranchlending.com
What a South Branch Lending loan really costs
South Branch Lending offers installment loans at APRs of roughly 630–780%, varying by payment schedule and amount, with same-day funding if you’re approved by 2:00 p.m. Central. Watch out for third-party pages advertising a "4.95–35.95% APR" — that figure contradicts the real 630–780% range and appears to be inaccurate. Borrowers also report ACH withdrawals landing two days before payday, overdrawing accounts.
- Same-day funding if approved by 2:00 p.m. Central.
- Directly tribe-owned (Menominee) rather than through an LLC shell.
- Real APRs run 630–780%, not the "4.95–35.95%" some sites show.
- ACH debits reported hitting two days before payday, causing overdrafts.
- No published excluded-states list.
- Flagged as unlicensed by Washington’s DFI.
Where South Branch Lending lends
South Branch does not publish a fixed excluded-states list; its loans are governed by tribal and federal law, and Washington’s DFI has flagged it as unlicensed there.
Does South Branch Lending report to credit bureaus?
South Branch underwrites on alternative data typical of tribal installment lenders and does not confirm major-bureau reporting, so it will not build credit.
Who owns South Branch Lending
South Branch Lending is wholly owned by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, based in Keshena, WI, with loans governed by federal and Menominee tribal law. Unlike the Lac du Flambeau brands (which lend through LLC shells like Waawaatesi and Niizhwaaswi), South Branch is directly tribe-owned. It is a Menominee sibling to Crane Finance, Today Cash and Northern Star Lending.
What South Branch Lending costs in dollars
South Branch Lending's published ceiling is 780% APR. Below is what that rate does to the amounts it actually lends, repaid over 12 monthly payments.
| You borrow | Monthly | Total repaid | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300 | $195 | $2,346 | $2,046 |
| $1,200 | $782 | $9,383 | $8,183 |
| $2,000 | $1,303 | $15,638 | $13,638 |
At 780%, a $300 balance accrues about $195 in interest every month. Any payment below that figure leaves you owing more than you started with, however long you pay.
Standard amortisation at the published ceiling rate; fees are not included, and your actual rate and term may differ. Run your own numbers in the payoff calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the real APR on a South Branch Lending loan?
Roughly 630–780%, depending on your payment schedule and amount. Ignore the "4.95–35.95%" figure on some third-party sites — it contradicts the real range. Read your agreement’s APR box.
Why did South Branch withdraw money early?
Borrowers report ACH debits hitting up to two days before payday, causing overdrafts. Revoke ACH authorization in writing and ask your bank to block early debits.
Is South Branch Lending a tribal loan?
Yes. South Branch Lending is a tribal lending brand owned by the Menominee Indian Tribe in WI. That means it lends under tribal law and claims sovereign immunity from your state's interest-rate cap, rather than holding a state lending licence. It is also why its APR reaches 400–780% — far above the roughly 36% cap most states set for small loans. Whether the loan is enforceable where you live depends on your state.
What does a South Branch Lending loan cost?
South Branch Lending lends $300–$2,000 at 400–780% APR. At those rates the total repaid is typically several times the amount borrowed, because interest is front-loaded — check the total of payments, not the monthly figure.
Is a South Branch Lending loan legal in my state?
It depends entirely on your state. High-cost tribal loans are effectively banned in nine states, where a loan above the rate cap can be void and not legally collectible, and restricted in many more. South Branch Lending claims tribal sovereign immunity from those caps — an argument courts have accepted in some cases and rejected in others. Check your state before you borrow, and especially before you pay a collector.
How this site works
We are an independent registry — not a lender, not a broker and not a lead generator. This lender did not pay to appear here and cannot pay to change what the review says. We take no money from any lender and sell no applications.
Entries are built from the lender's own published disclosures, tribal corporate and lending-authority records, federal and state court filings, and CFPB, FTC and state regulator actions. Of the 143 brands in the full list of tribal lenders, 41 are confirmed lending, 74 sit on a watchlist pending verification, and 28 have shut down. Where a figure cannot be sourced we leave it blank rather than estimate it — which is why some entries are deliberately incomplete.
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