Editorial Policy
Last updated: July 2026
Our mission
StraightSum exists to help U.S. consumers make informed short-term borrowing decisions. We publish calculators, state-by-state guides, and educational content that is accurate, transparent, and free of marketing spin.
Editorial independence
Our content is written before partner compensation enters the picture. Lender compensation does not influence:
- Which products we recommend or compare
- The order or ranking of lenders in our comparisons
- Whether we publish alternatives that don't pay us referral fees
- Whether we flag warning signs or blacklist a partner
Sourcing
We rely on:
- Lender disclosures provided under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
- State financial regulator publications and statutes
- NMLS Consumer Access for lender licensing verification
- CFPB and FTC consumer protection resources
- Federal Reserve economic data
We do not cite anonymous sources, unverified reports, or fabricated data. If we cannot verify a claim, we label it as unverified or omit it.
Review process
All content goes through:
- Initial writing — by the author, using verified sources
- Editorial review — checked for accuracy, clarity, and compliance
- Periodic review — content is revisited at least annually, or when laws or lender terms change
Each page displays a "last reviewed" date so readers know when the information was last verified.
Corrections
If you spot an error, email info@straightsum.com. We investigate and publish corrections promptly.
Advertising disclosure
Our tools and referral service are free to use. Partners pay us for completed forms submitted through /apply-now/. Whether a submission qualifies for payment, and the amount paid, depend on the partner's criteria. A completed form is not a loan approval or a promise of funding. Compensation does not change our calculator results.
What we don't do
- We don't accept payment for positive reviews or coverage
- We don't guarantee approval or make "no credit check" claims
- We don't publish content we haven't verified
- We don't work with unlicensed, offshore, or upfront-fee operators