Additional Information for Riverbend Cash

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received complaints about the following online lenders:

Island Finance, LLC d/b/a White Hills Cash
Clear Water Lending, LLC d/b/a Cash Fairy
West River Finance, LLC d/b/a West River Cash
North Star Finance, LLC d/b/a Northcash
Northern Plains Funding, LLC d/b/a Northern Plains Funding
Riverbend Finance, LLC d/b/a Riverbend Cash
Target Finance, LLC d/b/a Target Cash Now

It appears that these companies may be operating as online tribal lending companies. These companies assert ownership by the Fort Belknap Indian Community, a federally recognized Indian Tribe. These companies are not licensed by DFI and are not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue or the Secretary of State.

The DFI warns Washington State consumers that before doing business with a financial service provider the consumer should:

Make sure that the entity is licensed. Consumers can use the “Verify a License” feature on DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov to check whether a payday or consumer loan company is licensed to conduct business in the state of Washington.  Don’t provide any personal information such as social security number or bank account numbers if the company is not licensed or authorized to conduct business.

Washington State residents are informed that Washington State law provides in RCW 31.45.105(1)(d) and (3) that a “small loan” made by an unlicensed entity to a person physically located in Washington State is uncollectible and unenforceable in Washington State. A “small loan” is defined in RCW 31.45.073 and is a loan that does not exceed $700. Washington State residents with loans exceeding $700 are informed that Washington State law provides in RCW 31.04.035 that fees or interest charged in the making of a nonresidential loan by an unlicensed lender must be refunded to the borrower.

If you live in another state, go to the following webpage to find the regulator in your home state:  http://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/consumer/Pages/AgencyContacts.aspx(link is external).For more information go to http://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumer/alerts/fort-belknap-indian-community-not-licensed-washington or contact the Washington Department of Finance at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334) or online at www.dfi.wa.gov.