Self
Self, formerly known as Self Lender, is a financial services company that specializes in helping customers build or rebuild their credit. Founded in 2014, the company provides credit builder loans and secured credit cards to individuals looking to establish or improve their credit history. The core product, a credit builder loan, allows customers to make regular payments into a Certificate of Deposit (CD) for a set period, which is reported to the major credit bureaus to potentially improve their credit score. At the end of the term, customers gain access to the savings in the CD. Through this mechanism, Self aims to provide a financial product for those who might be underserved by traditional banking institutions, offering a pathway to better credit.