Security Finance
Security Finance is a privately held, founder-owned consumer finance company founded in 1955 that provides personal installment loans ($491-$2,600) and tax preparation services through 750+ branches across 12 US states, serving subprime and credit-building individual consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersSpartanburg, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Security Finance does
Security Finance is a privately held consumer finance company founded in October 1955 by Jesse L. Bridges in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The company provides personal installment loans ranging from $491 to $2,600 (varying by state) with fixed terms of 8 to 21 months, equal monthly payments, no balloon payments, and no prepayment penalties. Maximum APR for highly qualified customers is 35.1%, with credit activity reported to Equifax and TransUnion to support customer credit building. Security Finance is licensed to operate in 12 US states (AL, GA, ID, LA, MI, MO, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI) and supports its lending operations through over 750 physical branches and a corporate headcount in the 1,001-5,000 employee range. The company has also institutionalized tax preparation services through subsidiary 1040 Tax Services, Inc., offering tiered return types ($50-$84 per return), Refund Advance Loans of $250-$7,000, and a Refund Transfer product in partnership with Pathward, N.A.
The business model combines interest and fee income from installment loans with professional-services revenue from tax preparation and ancillary fees. Distribution is branch-centric, supplemented by digital self-service tools including a mobile app (with biometric login and 2-Factor Authentication), a browser-based customer web portal at mysecurityfinance.com, and an SMS text-alert system. Application initiation occurs online or by phone but completion is performed with branch personnel, indicating a hybrid human-assisted underwriting model rather than a fully automated fintech stack. Customer acquisition is driven by geographic presence, a Refer-a-Friend program ($50 per qualified loan), consumer-education content marketing, and brand recognition built over 70+ years (25,000+ five-star Google reviews). Security Finance operates under founder/family ownership, has never raised outside capital, and maintains wholly-owned subsidiaries across its operating states as well as several retained acquired brands (Sunbelt Credit, Maverick Finance, Continental Loans, Zia Finance, Continental Credit, Bond Finance, Merit Finance). The company holds NMLS 2029421 registration, BBB accreditation, and USA PATRIOT Act compliance, and is restricted from lending to active-duty military and their dependents under the Military Lending Act.
Security Finance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Security Finance
- Legal name
- Security Finance Corporation of Spartanburg
- Website
- https://securityfinance.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Security Finance is a privately held, founder-owned consumer finance company founded in 1955 that provides personal installment loans ($491-$2,600) and tax preparation services through 750+ branches across 12 US states, serving subprime and credit-building individual consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Security Finance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Lending (Personal Installment Loans)
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency & Short-Term Installment Personal Loans (Unsecured) (FSAKAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Small-Dollar Short-Term Installment Loans (Non-payday) (FSAKAMAI), Debt Consolidation Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAD)
Keywords
Where Security Finance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spartanburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Security Finance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Installment Loan Interest and Fees: Security Finance earns revenue through interest charges and fees on personal installment loans. Loans range from $491 to $2,600 depending on state. Repayment periods typically 8-21 months with equal monthly payments. Maximum APR offered to highly qualified customers is 35.1%.
- Tax Preparation Services: Security Finance provides tax preparation services including 1040 EIP Only Return ($50), 1040 SR Return ($79), and 1040 Return ($84). Also offers Refund Transfer products through Pathward, N.A. and Refund Advance Loans from $250 to $7,000.
- Referral Program: Current customers can earn $50 for each successful referral that results in a qualified loan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Traditional Installment Loans ($491 - $2,600) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tax Preparation Services |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Refer-a-Friend Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Security Finance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Security Finance provides personal installment loans ranging from $491 to $2,600 (varying by state) with set terms and equal monthly payments over 8–21 months, along with professional tax preparation services including 1040 returns, refund advance loans of $250–$7,000, and refund transfer products. The company operates through 750+ physical branches across 12 US states and supplements in-person service with a mobile app, customer web portal, and SMS text alerts.
Product overview
Security Finance operates as a consumer finance company offering traditional installment loans and tax preparation services. The core product is Personal Installment Loans with fixed terms and equal monthly payments, available from $491 to $2,600 depending on state regulations. This is supplemented by Tax Preparation Services including various return types (1040, 1040 SR, EIP Only) and Refund Advance Loans ($250-$7,000). The company provides digital self-service tools including a Mobile App and Customer Web Portal for account management, payment processing, and balance verification. Additional services include Text Alerts for payment reminders, a Refer-A-Friend program offering $50 rewards, and the Refund Transfer product for tax filers. The company also supports customers through educational resources and consumer education materials. Security Finance operates over 750 branches across the US and is licensed in 12 states (AL, GA, ID, LA, MI, MO, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI). The company was founded in 1955 and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Personal Installment Loans Traditional installment loans with set terms and equal monthly payments, ranging from $491 to $2,600 depending on state. Repayment periods typically 8–21 months with equal monthly payments. No balloon payments or prepayment penalties. Used for medical expenses, emergencies, debt consolidation, auto expenses, home improvement, and other personal financial needs by individual consumers, including those with less-than-perfect credit.
- Tax Preparation Services Professional tax preparation services offered at branch locations. Includes 1040 EIP Only Return ($50), 1040 SR Return (as low as $79 with coupon 'IC20'), 1040 Return ($84), Refund Advance Loans ($250 to $7,000), and drop-off tax service. Designed for individual tax filers seeking professional in-branch filing and quick access to refunds.
- Security Finance Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android allowing existing Security Finance customers to make payments, check payment amounts and due dates, verify loan balances, view payment history, receive notification reminders, find nearby branches, and contact local branches. Features 2-Factor Authentication and Biometric Login for security.
- Customer Web Portal Online account management portal accessible via web browser at mysecurityfinance.com. Allows existing customers to make payments and manage their loan accounts without downloading software. Accessed through phone, iPad, or laptop.
- Refund Advance Loan Refund advance loans of $250 to $7,000 offered in conjunction with Security Finance tax preparation services. Interest may apply, and availability is seasonal (e.g., ending after March 15, 2025). E-filing required to be eligible. Provided through partnership with Pathward, N.A.
- Refund Transfer Optional tax-refund related product offered through partnership with Pathward, N.A. that allows tax preparation customers to file today and pay nothing out of pocket. E-filing required for eligibility.
- 1040 Protect Deluxe Optional add-on product for tax preparation services that provides additional protection services for tax filers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Loans typically approved within a single day
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Security Finance
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Security Finance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Security Finance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Red CrosscoreSecurity Finance has been a supporter of the American Red Cross since 1997. Since 2017, they have been active participants in the American Red Cross Disaster Responder program. Security Finance's Lending Hand Foundation received the South Carolina Corporate Humanitarian Award. As the second-largest Red Cross donor in South Carolina, they have contributed over $3 million to support disaster response and recovery efforts. During COVID-19, they contributed an additional $30,000 to fund a community vehicle for disaster relief.
- MoneySKILL (AFSA Education Foundation)minorSecurity Finance directs customers to the FREE online, reality-based personal finance course called MoneySKILL developed by the AFSA Education Foundation. This free financial literacy resource helps consumers understand credit, budgeting, and financial management.
- Pew Research CenterminorPew Research Center has recognized traditional installment loans as a safe and affordable financial product. Security Finance references this recognition to establish credibility for their loan products.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Security Finance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Advance America: Advance America is a major installment and payday lender with extensive branch coverage, competing for the same small-dollar loan customer segment though with a broader product mix including payday loans.
- Heights Finance: Heights Finance (formerly MidCountry Financial) provides personal installment loans through branch locations, directly competing with Security Finance in similar customer segments and geographies.
- LendNation: LendNation operates as a direct installment loan competitor with online and in-person service, targeting similar small-dollar loan customers with comparable terms and APR ranges.
- Mariner Finance: Mariner Finance operates a comparable branch-based installment loan model targeting consumers with limited credit options, with overlapping geographies and similar loan products in the same customer segment.
- Republic Finance: Republic Finance is a regional installment lender with a branch-based distribution model that closely mirrors Security Finance's approach to serving subprime consumers across the Southeast.
- World Finance: World Finance is a direct competitor offering personal installment loans through a national branch network, serving similar subprime and credit-building customers with comparable loan sizes and terms.
- Check Into Cash: Check Into Cash operates a comparable multi-product consumer finance business including installment loans and tax preparation services, directly competing in similar customer segments and geographies.
Broad incumbents
- OneMain Financial: OneMain Financial is a much larger publicly-traded installment lender with over 1,000 branches, serving the same nonprime consumer segment with personal loans, though typically larger loan amounts and broader geographic coverage.
Others
- Pathward Financial: Pathward, N.A. is a financial partner that provides the Refund Transfer product to Security Finance's tax preparation customers, representing a key distribution, banking-as-a-service relationship in the company's tax business.
Emerging players
- Possible Finance: Possible Finance is a fintech emerging player offering small-dollar installment loans through a mobile-first platform, representing the digital-native competitive threat to traditional branch-based installment lenders like Security Finance.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Security Finance social profiles
Digital presenceSecurity Finance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Security Finance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Security Finance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Security Finance subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries25 records
Security Finance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Security Finance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Security Finance
What does Security Finance do?
Security Finance provides personal installment loans ranging from $491 to $2,600 (varying by state) with set terms and equal monthly payments over 8–21 months, along with professional tax preparation services including 1040 returns, refund advance loans of $250–$7,000, and refund transfer products. The company operates through 750+ physical branches across 12 US states and supplements in-person service with a mobile app, customer web portal, and SMS text alerts.
Is Security Finance a public or private company?
Security Finance is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Security Finance founded?
Security Finance was founded in 1955. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Security Finance based?
Security Finance is headquartered in Spartanburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Security Finance make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Installment Loan Interest and Fees are the primary driver. The others are tax Preparation Services and referral Program.
Who are Security Finance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Advance America, Heights Finance, LendNation, Mariner Finance, Republic Finance, World Finance and Check Into Cash. OneMain Financial is listed as a broad incumbent. Pathward Financial is listed as an others. Possible Finance is listed as an emerging player.
Does Security Finance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Security Finance.
What industry is Security Finance in?
Security Finance's product category is Consumer Lending (Personal Installment Loans). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAAAH, Emergency & Short-Term Installment Personal Loans (Unsecured), with a secondary code of FSAKAMAI, Small-Dollar Short-Term Installment Loans (Non-payday). Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6141.