Just found out about this Empower Thrive credit product and honestly it's kind of interesting if you're trying to build credit without the usual gatekeeping. So basically you can get up to $250 to start, no credit score needed to qualify, which is pretty different from traditional lending apps.

The way it works is you link your bank account and they check your paycheck history and spending patterns instead of pulling your credit file. Takes like three minutes to get approved. The Empower Thrive line starts at $250 but can go up to $1,000 if you're consistent with payments. Interest is 0% if you pay with your next paycheck, otherwise it's 35.99% if you do the split payment thing.

One thing that caught my attention is they report everything to the big three credit bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax, Experian—so you're actually building your credit history while borrowing. That's the whole point of Empower Thrive I guess. Plus you only apply once and can reuse the line, unlike their cash advance product where you have to reapply every time.

The catch is there's an $8 monthly subscription and you get a 14-day trial first. Other similar apps are free but offer smaller limits. Empower also has their cash advance option (up to $250, no interest) and a debit card with some rewards, but the Thrive line is the credit-building focused product.

Not sure if it's better than other credit builders like Kikoff or SeedFi, but the no credit score requirement on Empower Thrive is definitely the main selling point. Worth checking out if you're stuck in that credit limbo situation.