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Does Cleo Cash Advance Report to Credit Bureaus
July 1, 2025

Quick Answer
Cleo's standard cash advance does not report to the major credit bureaus, so it will not directly impact your credit score. For those looking to build credit, Cleo offers a separate Credit Builder Card that is designed to report your payment history.
Cleo Cash Advance and Your Credit
Cleo is a financial AI assistant that offers a cash advance feature. This service provides users with small, interest-free loans to help them manage finances between paychecks and avoid overdraft fees. Eligibility and the advance amount are determined by an analysis of the user's linked bank account.
While the standard cash advance does not impact your credit score, Cleo offers a separate Credit Builder Card. This secured card is designed to help users build credit history. Repayment activity for the Credit Builder Card is reported to the three major credit bureaus, affecting your credit report.
Does Cleo Cash Advance Report to Credit Bureaus?
There is no definitive public information confirming if Cleo Cash Advance reports your activity to major credit bureaus. For the most accurate details on their specific policies, contacting Cleo's support is recommended. Generally, financial services report activity based on specific triggers, including the following common examples.
- Account Opening: Lenders often report when a new credit account is opened in your name.
- Payment History: On-time or late payments are a primary factor reported to credit bureaus.
- Statement Closing Date: Your balance is typically reported to bureaus after your statement closes each cycle.
- Late-Payment Thresholds: Payments over 30 days late are usually reported and can negatively impact your score.
- Collections Activity: Severely delinquent accounts sent to collections are almost always reported to credit bureaus.
Who Does Cleo Cash Advance Report Credit Information to?
Although Cleo does not disclose its reporting partners, most lenders share information with the three main credit bureaus in the United States:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
When does Cleo Cash Advance Report to Credit Bureaus?
The standard Cleo Cash Advance does not report your activity to the major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. Because the advance is not a traditional loan, there is no set reporting schedule or specific trigger for it to appear on your credit file. The feature is designed to provide a short-term financial cushion without affecting your credit score, for better or worse.
How Reporting Can Affect Your Credit Score
Positive impact
- Consistently making on-time payments builds a positive payment history, the most heavily weighted factor in both FICO and VantageScore credit models.
- Adding a cash advance as a new type of credit can diversify your credit mix, which may provide a slight boost to your score.
Potential negatives
- A single missed or late payment will be reported, negatively impacting your payment history and potentially causing a significant drop in your score.
- Failing to repay the advance could lead to the account going into collections, a severe negative event that devastates credit scores for years.
Tips for Managing Credit with Cleo Cash Advance
Using a Cleo cash advance wisely is key to keeping your finances on track. Here are several tips to help you manage it effectively:
- Only borrow what you truly need. Taking the maximum available amount can lead to repayment stress, so stick to the essentials to keep your budget balanced.
- Set repayment reminders. Use Cleo’s notifications or your phone's calendar to avoid missing the due date and protect your financial standing.
- Understand the costs involved. Be aware of any subscription or express fees so you can make an informed decision about whether the advance is worth it.
- Reserve advances for emergencies. Treat them as a safety net for unexpected expenses, not for regular spending, to maintain healthy financial habits.
- Leverage Cleo’s budgeting tools. Monitor your spending to identify areas where you can cut back, which can help reduce your reliance on future cash advances.
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