What Are Income Verification Documents for an Apartment Application?

Income verification documents, which are typically requested when you’re applying to rent a home or apartment, are documents that prove you have a job and are earning an income.

A landlord requests these documents to ensure that you’re earning enough to cover your rent payments each month. The income verification paperwork requested may vary from landlord to landlord, and the documents may also differ, depending on your specific career situation. The landlord is simply doing their due diligence to make sure you can afford the rental.

How to Show Proof of Income to Rent an Apartment

There are a number of ways that prospective renters can show proof of income to a prospective landlord or property management company. The types of documents you need to produce will likely depend on the specific request from the landlord.

Generally, there are a few standard income verification documents that landlords and property managers are looking for:

•  Pay stubs

•  Tax returns or W2 forms

•  Bank statements

•  A letter from your employer

Typically, a landlord will request two forms of income verification. Often, your pay stubs and tax forms will suffice as proof of income. But in some cases, you may need to submit several months’ worth of bank statements. You might even need to ask your employer to write you a letter to assure the landlord that you have a job and do have income.

Recommended: How Much Should I Spend on Rent?

How to Show Proof of Income if You’re Self-Employed

If you’re self-employed, the process can be more complicated. You may need to submit 1099 tax forms, or your personal tax returns showing regular and steady income going back a couple of years. Depending on the nature of your self-employment, you may have business tax returns, such as a Schedule C if you own and run a small business, that you can use to verify your income.

You can also use bank statements from your business bank account to show a landlord that you have income. The documents required will likely be similar to those you need when applying for self-employed personal loans. Ask the landlord what will work best for them so you will know exactly what documents you should present.

How to Show Proof of Income for Side Hustles

You may have a side hustle—perhaps you make and sell crafts online, for instance—and that’s similar to owning a small business. And you should be reporting the income you make from your side hustle to the IRS on your tax return. By presenting your tax return to a landlord, you can prove that you’re making side hustle income.

If you’re working for a ridesharing app or food delivery service, the company should be sending you a tax statement with your annual earnings so that you can report them on your tax return. You can always show a copy of that tax statement to a prospective landlord.

Why Proof of Income is Important

Proving your income is important when you rent an apartment—or apply for credit, for that matter—because it shows that you have money coming in every month, and are able to fulfill your financial obligations. In other words, it shows the property owner that you can make your rent payments.

Recommended: What is The Difference Between Transunion and Equifax

Understanding Rent-to-Income Ratio

Along with proving your income, you need to make sure that your rent is not eating up too much of your paycheck. That’s where the “rent-to-income ratio” comes into play. It calculates the percentage of your total income that you’re spending on rent.

The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your gross monthly income on housing costs. Depending on where you live, those costs may be a higher or lower percentage of your income, but try to aim for around 30%.

To figure out your rent-to-income ratio, divide your total annual earnings by 12, which gives you your monthly earnings, and multiply that number by 0.3 (or 30%). The result is how much you can afford to spend on rent per month.

Annual earnings ÷ 12 x 0.3 = How much you can afford to pay for rent

For example, let’s say you earn $50,000 a year. Divide that number by 12 and multiply it by 0.3 and you get $1,250. That’s what you should aim to spend on rent each month. Depending on where you live, you may need to spend more, but that figure gives you a ballpark of where you should be in order to have enough money to pay for your other expenses and hopefully, contribute to your savings as well.

Recommended: Should I Sell My House Now or Wait

How to Best Prepare to Pay Rent

When you are approved by a landlord to rent an apartment, you’ll need to plan and prepare to pay your rent on time and in full every month.

That means having your finances in order. First, you should have a checking account set up. Typically, you’ll pay your landlord by check or through an online portal and either way, you’ll need a bank account in order to do this. You may be surprised to learn that more than 6% of U.S. households (or more than 14 million people) don’t have a bank account. Fortunately, it’s easy to open an account if you don’t have one.

💡 For help, here’s what you’ll need to open a bank account.

Next, make sure that you’re properly budgeting for your rental expenses. You want to make sure that you have enough money in your account to cover the rent when your landlord cashes your check. This budget planner app can help.

There are other expenses that can go along with renting an apartment or home that you may need to pay. Here are a few you should be aware of:

•  Utility bills

•  Renters insurance

•  Parking, maintenance, and fees for amenities such as a gym or pool

Finally, know the terms of your lease. It’s common for rent to go up once a lease expires, which you may discover when you go to re-sign or renegotiate the rent. Unfortunately, renting is not like a fixed-rate mortgage when you have a monthly rate locked in. So don’t be surprised if the costs of staying in your apartment go up after your lease expires.

The Takeaway

Income verification documents offer proof to a landlord or property management company that you have enough money coming in every month to pay the cost of an apartment or home rental. Typically, pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements are the only forms of documentation you need. However, if you are a small business owner, you may be required to produce additional documents. The good news: Once you are approved to rent, you can start the process of moving in.

Before you rent a home or apartment, it’s a good idea to make sure your financial house is in order, and SoFi can help. You can track your money all in one place, keep tabs on your spending, and save for goals like rent.

With SoFi, you’ll always know where your finances stand.

FAQ:

Can you rent an apartment with no income?

It is possible to rent an apartment with no income, though it likely will be quite difficult. In this instance, having a high credit score can help, because it shows you have a track record of paying your expenses. A healthy savings account can also be useful to prove you have money in the bank.

Can proof of income for an apartment be faked?

It is possible to fake proof of income for an apartment by using online tools to create fake pay stubs and other documents. This constitutes fraud and is illegal, but it does happen.

Is proof of income different for a student?

Yes, it can be, yes. If a student has no income because they are studying full-time, they may need to get a co-signer like a parent or guarantor in order to secure a lease.


Photo credit: iStock/Anna Kim

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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What Is a Liquidity Pool in Cryptocurrency?

What Is a Liquidity Pool in Cryptocurrency?

A liquidity pool is a collection of cryptocurrency funds grouped into a smart contract. This smart contract provides users of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) with access to liquidity for their trades. Rather than traditional order books containing buy and sell orders, most DEXs use automated market makers (AMMs) to facilitate trades automatically via liquidity pools.

Continue reading this crypto guide to learn about the innovation of liquidity pools and their various use cases.

How Crypto Liquidity Pools Work

Liquidity pools offer incentives to investors in exchange for locking up tokens in the pool. Most often, incentives come in the form of trading fees from the exchange that utilizes the pool. When someone provides liquidity to a pool, they might gain a liquidity provider (LP) token for doing so. The tokens themselves can be valuable, but also have other functions inside the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

Those who provide liquidity typically receive a number of LP tokens proportionate to the amount of funds they have given to the pool. Each time a trade is facilitated using that pool, a portion of the trading fee is divided up and given to those who hold LP tokens.

When someone buys a token on a decentralized exchange, they aren’t buying from a seller in the same way that traditional markets work. Instead, the trading activity is handled by an algorithm that controls the pool. AMM algorithms also maintain market values for the tokens they hold, keeping the price of tokens in relation to one another based on the trades taking place in the pool.

The finer points of just how liquidity pools work is a highly technical topic that branches out into numerous subtopics , which are worth taking the time to understand.

The Importance of Crypto Liquidity Pools

In the beginning, DEXs often had liquidity problems. They tried to mimic traditional exchanges with order books, and this didn’t work very well. At some point, the invention of a liquidity pool was introduced, giving users an incentive to provide liquidity and removing the need to match buyers with sellers using an order book.

This one change helped enable DeFi’s explosive growth of over the last several years, as it gave decentralized exchanges a way to provide liquidity using crowdfunded pools and algorithms.

Purpose of Liquidity Pools in DeFi

The main purpose of a liquidity pool in DeFi is to facilitate transactions without a centralized third party. Through the use of automated market makers (AMMs) and liquidity pools, trades can be executed automatically thanks to the pool. There’s no need for order books containing countless buy and sell orders.

Liquidity pools can also be used for a variety of other purposes, which include:

•   Tranching: dividing up financial products according to risk/reward profiles;

•   Minting synthetic assets, and

•   Providing insurance against smart contract risks.

Another use of liquidity pools involves what’s known as yield farming, which we’ll explain in more detail shortly.

Liquidity Pool Comparisons

What is a liquidity pool in comparison to other, similar DeFi alternatives?

Yield farming is a practice involving the use of multiple liquidity providers in a way that can maximize yield. Staking crypto works much the same way as participating in a pool, although the process may be different.

Liquidity Pools vs Yield Farming

Some DeFi platforms offer additional incentives for users to lock up tokens in the pool. This can be done by providing more tokens for special “incentivized” pools. Being a participant in these pools and getting as many LP tokens as possible is known as liquidity mining.

With a variety of different platforms and liquidity pools available, it can be difficult to determine where the best place to put one’s crypto might be. Yield farming involves locking up tokens in different DeFi apps in such a way as to maximize potential rewards.

Some platforms, like Yearn.finance, can automatically move user funds to different DeFi protocols in accordance with a user’s preferred risk tolerance and desired reward.

Liquidity Pools vs Staking

Staking and using a liquidity pool function in much the same way. In both cases, users lock up tokens and earn rewards. But what’s going on “under the hood” is a much different story.

While liquidity pools are a function of decentralized finance, staking simply involves dedicating tokens to a particular proof-of-stake (PoS) network. Holders of PoS tokens cam elect to lock up some of their funds to help validate transactions on the network. In exchange, they get a chance to earn the next block reward of newly minted coins.

Potential Benefits and Risks of Liquidity Pools

It’s important to look at the risks and benefits when trying to answer the question “what is a liquidity pool.” In general, the risks are numerous, and the big benefit comes in the form of substantially higher yields than those in most traditional markets.

Potential Benefits

The main benefit of crypto liquidity pools is the potential to earn a yield on crypto that would otherwise be idle. With interest rates at historic lows, some investors have begun looking beyond traditional products like certificates of deposit (CDs), Treasury bonds for yield. There are stories of people achieving astronomical yields on their crypto with various DeFi products, although there are just as many stories of people who’ve invested in crypto products and lost everything.

Potential Risks

DeFi might be among the riskiest ventures in crypto. The smart contracts that underlay these platforms sometimes have exploitable bugs in them. Because of the large profit opportunity, these protocols have become a prime target for hackers.

In addition to hacks, some DeFi projects have proven to be outright scams from the start. A “rug pull” is a common type of scam in this area. Rug pulls involve developers creating a project, attracting investor funds, and then shutting down operations while making off with everything people had deposited. Consumers often have no legal recourse in these cases, and tracking down the perpetrators can be difficult, if not impossible.

Investing in DeFi products that use crypto liquidity pools involves the potential for total loss of principal.

The Takeaway

The answer to the question “what is a liquidity pool” gets complicated in terms of the technical aspects. In a nutshell, liquidity pools are crowdfunded pools of crypto used to facilitate trades and perform other functions in DeFi. This method of financing operations has made possible a number of innovative decentralized financial services.

FAQ

What does a liquidity pool do?

A liquidity pool provides liquidity for decentralized exchanges. Most often, liquidity pools are used to facilitate trades in a decentralized manner, although liquidity pools can also be used for other purposes like insurance, tranching, or minting synthetic assets.

How do liquidity pools make money?

Those who provide liquidity to liquidity pools receive tokens that divvy out rewards that come from trading fees. The rewards are proportional to the amount of value locked into the protocol.

How do you participate in liquidity pools?

Participating in crypto liquidity pools requires participating in decentralized finance. This typically involves creating an account on a decentralized exchange, exchanging a token you have for an LP token, and locking up the token in the platform. Most platforms have simple user interfaces that guide users through the process.


Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.

Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
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1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
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Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.



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What Is a Revolving Letter of Credit & How Does It Work?

What Is a Revolving Letter of Credit & How Does It Work?

If you’re in the business of importing and exporting, buying and selling, a revolving letter of credit can smooth transactions for you. Your work is likely full of some risky situations. For example, how does an exporter know that their buyers will make good on their promise to pay?

A revolving letter of credit can help. When it’s in place, it can allow buyers and sellers to be more confident in their business arrangements. It can help by ensuring that payments are made on time.

It sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it? Here, we’ll look at the specifics of revolving letters of credit. We’ll dive into:

•   What is a revolving letter of credit

•   How a revolving letter of credit works

•   The different types of revolving letters of credit

•   Limitations of revolving letters of credit

•   The pros and cons of a revolving letter of credit

What Is a Revolving Letter of Credit?

When you hear the phrase “revolving credit,” it may sound familiar from personal finance tools you’ve used, such as credit cards and equity lines of credits. These revolving credit accounts have a credit limit, which represents the maximum amount that an individual or business can spend. The individual or company can draw on the account up to the limit. Then, as they pay back the amount they owe, the amount of credit will rise back to its original value.

A balance can be paid off in full at the end of a billing cycle, or an individual may choose to carry it over into the next month, otherwise known as “revolving” the balance.

A revolving letter of credit is a bit less common, and they don’t function in exactly the same way. In fact, you can think of them as a tool for your business. They are specifically used to facilitate the regular shipments of goods or the delivery of services between buyers and sellers. They are most common in international trade, in which the buyer and seller are operating in two different places and/or regulatory environments.

Recommended: What is a Credit Card and How Does it Work?

How Does a Revolving Letter of Credit Work?

So now that you have a general idea of what a revolving letter of credit is, let’s look into how it works. The revolving line of credit is typically only issued once for a given period of time. This prevents buyers and sellers from needing to open a new line of credit every time they wish to make a transaction, which is very convenient.

The letter of credit is a guarantee from the buyer’s bank that payment will be made once the exporter ships the ordered goods and presents documentation as proof.

Because letters of credit tend to be labor-intensive and relatively expensive, they may only be recommended in higher-risk situations. “Such as?” you ask. Here’s an example:

You might get one of these letters of credit when dealing with a new trade relation or when extended payment terms are requested.

In order to receive a revolving letter of credit, having good credit is important. In fact, you may be limited if you have bad credit. If you have poor credit, there are ways you can build your credit which may be worth pursuing.

Start by checking your credit scores, and monitoring your scores regularly to ensure there are no mistakes on your credit report. Be aware that credit scores may be different at each of the three major credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), and your credit score is updated regularly. A couple of cornerstones of a good credit score: Always make bill payments on time, and pay down debts.

Recommended: What is Considered a Bad Credit Score Range?

Now that you know how a revolving letter of credit works, let’s move ahead. Next, let’s consider the steps required when applying for a letter of credit, as well as how the transaction facilitated by the letter works:

1.    The importer and exporter complete a sales agreement, and the importer applies to their bank for a letter of credit.

2.    The importer’s bank drafts the letter of credit, and the exporter’s bank approves it and sends it to the exporter.

3.    The exporter ships the goods the importer has agreed to buy and sends documentation to their own bank.

4.    The exporter’s bank checks over these documents to make sure they are correct. If they are, the exporter’s bank submits the documents to the importer’s bank.

5.    The importer’s bank then sends payment to the exporter’s bank, and the importer can claim the goods.

With a revolving letter of credit, steps three through five can happen over and over again in a given period of time, without a new letter of credit being drawn up.

Types of Revolving Letters of Credit

There isn’t just one template for revolving letters of credit. There are a variety of ways they can be written, in order to best suit a person’s or a business’ needs. Revolving letters of credit can be subdivided into two main categories, one based on value and the other based on time.

Time-Based Revolving Letter of Credit

Some revolving letters of credit are based on time. This means a specific payment amount can be drawn down over a set time period. For example, an importer could have a revolving letter of credit worth $120,000 drawn to cover a six-month period. During that time, payments of $20,000 could be made to an exporter each month. At the end of the six-month period, the revolving letter of credit expires.

Cumulative Revolving Letter of Credit

The time-based resolving letter of credit can be subdivided again into two different subcategories: cumulative and non-cumulative revolving letters of credit. If the revolving letter of credit is cumulative, then previously unused limits can be shifted ahead and used in subsequent time periods. In the example above, if the exporter doesn’t ship any goods in the second month, then it could ship $40,000 worth of goods in month three.

This type of set-up provides the seller with a certain amount of flexibility. However, it can be riskier for the buyer who isn’t receiving goods regularly.

Non-Cumulative Revolving Letter of Credit

The other sort of time-based revolving letter of credit is non-cumulative. This means that previous unused amounts of credit cannot be rolled over into a subsequent month. So, if the exporter in the example above doesn’t ship any goods in the second month, only $20,000 worth of goods can be shipped in each of the subsequent months.

This set-up is less risky for the buyer, because it locks the seller into shipping goods within a narrower time period and under more specific conditions. If the seller doesn’t supply the promised goods within a certain period, they cannot carry that over into a subsequent period.

Value-Based Revolving Letter of Credit

Now, for the other main variety: The value-based revolving letter of credit is much like its time-based counterpart. The biggest difference is payment from the buyer is only released when they receive goods worth a certain value.

Say, for example, a revolving letter of credit is issued for $120,000 over six months for goods worth $20,000 each month. The exporter can only ship and receive payment for goods worth $20,000 each month. If, for example, they are only able to produce $15,000 worth of goods in one month, they cannot ship the goods to the seller, and the seller won’t provide payment. In this case, the value is very specific, and it really matters.

Advantages of Revolving Letters of Credit

So why issue a letter of revolving credit? There are a number of benefits. Here are some of the most important ways it can help you run your business:

•   It saves time and money.

•   Because it is revolving, the letter of credit does not need to be reissued for each transaction during a set period.

•   It helps facilitate regular trade between a buyer and a seller and can help keep your bank account healthy.

•   It can help build trust between buyers and sellers.

•   It can incentivize sellers to manufacture a consistent level of goods, especially for non-cumulative and value-based letters.

•   It can provide flexibility in terms of the types of agreements buyers and sellers can enter into.

Disadvantages of a Revolving Letter of Credit

Despite the advantages listed above, there are some limitations and drawbacks to consider:

•   Letters of credit tend to be limited to one supplier only.

•   They don’t apply to one-time transactions.

•   Changes, such as changes to tax law, customs rules, or product design may require amendments to the agreement.

•   Bank fees may make revolving letters of credit costly, especially for applicants.

The Takeaway

If you run an importing business and you’re buying goods from overseas — especially from an exporter that represents a new business relationship — a revolving letter of credit can make things easier. It can remove some of the risk of the transactions as you build trust with this new supplier. Of course, if you’re an exporter, the same applies.

That said, it’s important to consider the limitations of using a letter of credit, in particular the cost, and weigh that against the benefits. No two people or businesses have the same financial situations and needs, so exploring how these letters of credit might fit with your goals is vital.

Yes, money situations do vary dramatically, but most of us will agree that higher interest and fewer fees is a good way to bank. That’s exactly what SoFi offers for your personal accounts. Open a new bank account online with direct deposit, and you won’t pay any of the usual account fees. What’s more, you’ll earn a terrific APY.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

When should a revolving letter of credit be used?

You may want to consider using a revolving letter of credit to minimize risk when engaged in importing and exporting or certain other kinds of buying and selling. It’s especially useful when a relationship with a seller is new or you wish to have more control over how many goods you’re buying over a set period of time.

Who issues the revolving letter of credit?

The revolving letter of credit is issued by the buyer’s bank.

What is an irrevocable revolving letter of credit?

An irrevocable revolving letter of credit cannot be changed unless all parties involved agree to the modifications of the contract.


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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.


Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Guide to Voucher Checks

Voucher checks (also called check vouchers) are an extended check format that includes payment details not typically seen on a standard check. For example, a payroll voucher check allows the recipient to view taxes and other deductions from their gross pay. Voucher checks get their name from the two detachable sections (the “vouchers” or stubs) below the check itself.

A disadvantage of voucher checks is the additional clerical work required by the business issuing the check. Keep reading for more insight into how voucher checks work.

What Is a Voucher Check?

Many consumers don’t know what a voucher check is. A voucher check is a type of check variant that has detailed informational sections attached. These vouchers outline what the content and purpose of the check is. The voucher check is typically printed as a full sheet of paper, with the check at the top and the two removable vouchers below.

The payee holds on to the first voucher. Before cashing the check, the recipient will remove the remaining voucher and keep it for their records. Both parties can refer back to their vouchers in the event of a payment dispute.

It’s common for businesses to use voucher checks for employee payroll, as noted above. Payroll vouchers, also referred to as “pay stubs,” usually list deductions for taxes, insurance premiums, and other withholding items. This information can help employees better understand their pre- and post-tax income, and the breakdown of deductions.

How Do Voucher Checks Work?

Now that you know what a voucher check is, you’re probably wondering how they’re different from regular checks. For payees, voucher checks are handled the same as standard checks, with one exception: The payee should remove the voucher from the check before deposit. The voucher can be kept on file for future reference.

Anyone with a bank account can deposit a voucher check. Consumers who don’t have a bank account (about 1 in 20 Americans) can sign over a check to another recipient or try cashing the check at their local bank or credit union for a fee. As with most corporate checks, recipients should try to deposit the check within 6 months or the check may expire.

Recommended: Are Checkbooks Still Useful?

Who Uses Voucher Checks?

As we mentioned above, voucher checks are commonly used by businesses to pay their staff or vendors. Even if a company directly deposits pay into employee bank accounts, they may choose to keep a paper trail via a voucher check.

Preparing a Voucher Check

Voucher checks (or check vouchers) may be prepared by a business’s accounts payable or payroll department, using the following steps.

•   Step 1 All related documents – contracts, purchase orders, invoices, statements of accounts – are collected, either in hard copy or digitally.

•   Step 2 A voucher is created that incorporates any relevant info from the backup documentation, but always includes the voucher number, bank name, payor, date, amount, and recipient.

•   Step 3 The voucher is then attached to a standard written check, and both are signed by the authorized signatory.

•   Step 4 Once the recipient deposits or cashes the check, the business will file its own voucher and supporting documents.

Advantages of a Voucher Check

There are important advantages associated with voucher checks, which prompts businesses to go to the extra effort. Here are some of them:

Documents Maintained in Check Voucher System

When preparing a check voucher, a business must first gather all supporting documentation. This helps keep all relevant paperwork organized and in one place. It’s not possible to maintain a check voucher system without doing this.

Records Are in Order With No Irregularities

The bookkeeping process is considerably simpler when a payroll department uses a check voucher system, because all important documents are easily accessible in one place, in hard copy or digitally. Also, check vouchers are numbered and filed in chronological order, which keeps filing systems simple.

Easier to Track Checks

Businesses commonly do not file check vouchers until the check is deposited or cashed. Only cleared checks are filed.

Recommended: How to Stop Payment on a Check

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Disadvantages of Voucher Checks

There are downsides associated with voucher checks that small businesses especially may want to keep in mind.

Maintenance Process Can Be Time-Consuming

Because of the additional documentation and organization requirements, it can be tedious for businesses to maintain a check voucher system.

Lack of Consumer Familiarity

Many consumers aren’t familiar with how paper check vouchers work, which can cause concerns about security. Consumers should take care to keep their vouchers private.

Check Voucher Alternatives

Some employers may choose to use the following alternative payment methods. None of these options, however, provides as extensive and organized a paper trail as check vouchers do.

•   Standard checks. A simple physical check still provides some form of a paper trail. Paper checks can also be tracked digitally or via duplicate checks.

•   Direct deposit. Many businesses and employees prefer the direct deposit route because of how fast and simple it is to electronically transfer the funds.

•   Prepaid debit cards. This is a newer and less common payment option. Workers paid in prepaid debit cards won’t need a bank account to access their funds.

Banking With SoFi

Online banking with SoFi makes getting paid fast and easy with online mobile check depositing and 55,000+ ATMs worldwide. Access your paycheck up to two days early, without paying account or overdraft fees, when you sign up for direct deposit.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

How do you use a voucher check?

For payees, voucher checks are handled the same as standard checks, with one exception: The payee should remove the voucher from the check before deposit. The voucher can be kept on file for future reference.

What is the difference between a check and a voucher?

Voucher checks get their name from the two detachable sections (the “vouchers” or stubs) below the check itself. The voucher portion outlines the content and purpose of the check. Aside from the voucher, the check portion works like a standard paper check.

What does a voucher check look like?

A voucher check is typically printed as a full sheet of paper, with the check at the top and two removable vouchers below. The vouchers contain additional payment information that usually isn’t included on a standard check.


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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.


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Understanding How P2P Lending Works

Understanding How P2P Lending Works

Sometimes you need a loan for a venture that a traditional bank might not approve. In these instances, a peer-to-peer (P2P) loan might be what you’re looking for. Peer-to-peer lending, also known as social lending, rose out of the 2008 financial crisis. When banks stopped lending money as freely as they had in the past, potential borrowers had fewer loan options. At the same time, low interest rates meant lower returns from savings accounts or CDs.

Enter P2P lending sites. P2P lenders essentially cut out the middleman (banks and traditional lenders) and created a space for borrowers and investors to do business. Since then, the concept of lending person-to-person has taken off, with the rise of a number of peer-to-peer lending platforms.

Wondering if a P2P loan is right for you? Or if investing in P2P lending is a smart way to diversify your portfolio? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons.

What Is Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending?

P2P lending links up people who want to borrow money with individual investors who want to lend money. P2P lending sites like Lending Club, Prosper, and Upstart — three of the largest P2P lenders — provide low-cost platforms where borrowers can request loans and investors can bid on them.

Most of the personal loans offered on P2P platforms range from $1,000 to $40,000 and have repayment periods of approximately 36 months. Interest rates can vary widely, from around 6% to 36%, depending on factors including the purpose of a loan and the individual’s credit history and perceived risk.

The lending platforms make money from serving as the intermediary in this process. In exchange for keeping records and transferring funds between parties, they charge a fee — typically a 1% annual fee — to the investors lending the money. Some platforms also charge origination or closing fees to the borrowers, which typically range from 1% to 5% of the loan amount.

In addition to personal loans, many P2P platforms may also offer small business, medical, and education loans as well.

Is Peer-to-Peer Lending Safe?

The bulk of the risk of peer-to-peer lending falls onto investors. It’s possible that borrowers will default on their loans, and that risk increases if the investor opts to lend to those with lower credit ratings. If the loan were to go into default, the investor may not get paid back.

Further, peer-to-peer lending is an investment opportunity, and returns are never guaranteed when investing. There is the risk that investors could lose some or all of the amount they invest. Unlike deposit accounts with a traditional bank or credit union, P2P investments are not FDIC-insured.

How Does Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending Work?

The basic P2P lending process works like this: A borrower first goes through a quick soft credit pull with the P2P lending platform of their choice to determine initial eligibility. If eligible to continue, the lender likely will conduct a hard credit pull and then assign a borrower a “loan grade,” which will help lenders or investors assess how much of a risk lending to them might be.

The borrower can then make a listing for their loan, including the interest rate they’re willing to pay. With most P2P lending platforms, the borrower has an opportunity to make a case for themselves; they can provide an introduction and describe why they need the loan. A compelling, creative listing might have more luck grabbing a lender’s attention and trust.

Next, lenders can bid on the listing with the amount they can lend and the interest rate they’d be willing to offer. After the listing has ended, the qualified bids are combined into a single loan and that amount is deposited into the borrower’s bank account.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending Examples

With the rise of P2P lending, there are now a number of lending platforms to choose from. Here are some examples of popular peer-to-peer lending sites:

•   LendingClub: LendingClub offers loans of up to $40,000 that can be used for a variety of purposes, including paying down high-interest debt or funding a home improvement project. Borrowers can receive funding in as little as 24 hours upon loan approval.

•   Prosper: Prosper can provide loans in amounts anywhere from $2,000 up to $40,000. Loan terms are three or five years, and funding can happen in as little as one business day.

•   Upstart: Upstart can offer borrowers loans of up to $50,000, with loan terms of either three or five years. It’s possible to check your rate in minutes, and most loans are funded within one business day after signing.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending for Bad Credit

It is possible to get a peer-to-peer loan with a bad credit score (meaning a FICO score below 580). However, those with lower credit scores will almost certainly pay higher interest rates.

Additionally, those with bad credit may have more limited options in lenders, though there are peer-to-peer lending for bad credit options. Many platforms have minimum credit score requirements, which tend to be in the range of fair (580-669) to good (670-739). For instance, Prosper, one of the major P2P lending platforms, requires a minimum score of 680.

If you have bad credit and are seeking a P2P loan, you might first work to improve your credit score before applying. Or, you could consider getting a cosigner, which can increase your odds of getting approved and securing a better rate if you’re finding it hard to get a personal loan.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lenders Fees

Peer-to-peer lending platforms can charge fees to both borrowers and investors. Which fees apply and the amount of these fees can vary from lender to lender.

A common fee that borrowers may encounter is an origination fee, which is typically a percentage of the loan amount. Other fees that borrowers may face include late fees, returned payment fees, and fees for requesting paper copies of records.

Investors, meanwhile, may owe an investor service fee. This is generally a percentage of the amount of loan payments they receive.

Pros of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending

There are upsides to peer-to-peer lending for both borrowers and investors. However, the benefits will differ for both parties involved.

Pros of P2P Loans for Borrowers

•   Easier eligibility: The biggest advantage for a borrower getting a personal loan peer-to-peer is being eligible for a loan they might not have been able to get from a traditional lender.

•   Faster approval and competitive rates: P2P lenders might approve your loan faster and offer a more competitive rate than a traditional lender would.

•   Possible to pay off credit card debt: One way that people are using P2P loans is to crush their credit card debt. People with high credit card balances could be paying up to 20% APR or higher in interest charges. If they can wipe it out with a P2P loan at a lower interest rate, it can save them a lot of money.

•   Option to finance upcoming expenses: Those who are facing a lot of upcoming expenses might find it more cost-effective to take out a P2P loan rather than put those expenses on a high-interest credit card.

Pros of P2P Loans for Investors

•   Promising alternative investment opportunity: Some see P2P lending as a promising alternative investment. When you lend money P2P, you can earn income on the returns as the borrower repays you. Those interest rates can be a few percentage points higher than what you might earn by keeping your money in a savings account or a CD. While there is some risk involved, some investors see it as less volatile than investing in the stock market.

•   Option to spread out risk: P2P lenders also offer many options in terms of the types of risk investors want to take on. Additionally, there are ways you can spread the amount you’re lending over multiple loans with different risk levels.

•   Sense of community: For borrowers and investors, the sense of community on these sites is a welcome alternative to other forms of lending and investing. Borrowers can tell their stories and investors can help give their borrowers a happy ending to those stories.

Cons of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending

Though there are upsides to peer-to-peer lending, there are certainly problems as well. These include:

•   Risk for investors: The biggest disadvantage of P2P lending is risk. Since P2P loans are unsecured, there’s no guarantee an investor will get their money back. The borrowers on a P2P site might be there because traditional banks already declined their application. This means investors might need to do extra legwork on their end to evaluate how much risk they can take on.

•   Potentially higher rates for borrowers: For borrowers, while P2P lenders might approve a loan that a traditional bank wouldn’t, they might offer it with a much higher interest rate. In these cases, it could be wiser to search for alternatives rather than accepting a loan with a costly interest rate.

•   Effort and personal exposure for borrowers: There can be a lot of effort and personal exposure involved for the borrower. Borrowers have to make their case, and their financial story and risk grade will be posted for all to see. While we’re used to sharing a lot of our lives online, sharing financial information might feel like too much for some borrowers.

•   Relatively new industry with evolving regulations: Then there’s the risk of P2P lending itself. The concept is still relatively new, and the decision on how best to regulate and report on the industry is still very much a work in progress. Some lending platforms have already hit growing pains as well. As regulations around the industry change and investors are tempted elsewhere, the concept could lose steam, putting lending platforms in danger of closing.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Loans vs Bank Loans

When it comes to P2P loans compared to bank loans, the biggest difference is who is funding the loan. Whereas bank loans are funded by financial institutions, peer-to-peer loans are funded by individuals or groups of individuals.

Further, bank loans tend to have more stringent qualification requirements in comparison to P2P loans. This is why those with lower credit scores or thinner credit histories may turn to peer-to-peer lending after being denied by traditional lenders. In turn, default rates also tend to be higher with peer-to-peer lending.

The Takeaway

Peer-to-peer lending takes out the middleman, allowing borrowers and investors to do business. For borrowers, P2P loans can offer an opportunity to secure financing they may be struggling to access through traditional lenders. And for investors, P2P loans can offer an investing opportunity and a sense of community, as they’ll see where their money is going. However, there are drawbacks to consider before getting a peer-to-peer loan, namely the risk involved for investors.

Whether you’re getting a P2P loan or a loan from a traditional lender, it’s important to shop around to find the most competitive terms available to you. SoFi makes it easy to compare personal loan rates, and you can then apply online in just one minute.

Check out SoFi personal loans today to learn more!

FAQ

Is peer-to-peer lending safe?

There are certainly risks involved in peer-to-peer lending, particularly for investors. For one, borrowers could default on their loan, resulting in investors losing their money. Additionally, there’s no guarantee of returns when investing.

What is peer-to-peer lending?

Peer-to-peer lending is a type of lending wherein individual investors loan money directly to individual borrowers, effectively cutting out banks or other traditional financial institutions as the middlemen. This can allow borrowers who may have been denied by more traditional lenders to access funds, and provide investors with a shot at earning returns.

What is an example of peer-to-peer lending?

Some popular P2P lending sites include Lending Club, Prosper, Upstart, and Funding Circle. Borrowers can use peer-to-peer loans for a variety of purposes, such as home improvement, debt consolidation, small business costs, and major expenses like medical bills or car repairs.


Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

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