Plain-English information on the legal questions around 605 Lending loans and the practical steps you can take if you have a problem. This is general information, not legal advice.
Apply for $200 to $5,000605 Lending is operated by FSST Management Services, LLC, a lending entity owned by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. Its loan agreements say they are governed exclusively by tribal law and jurisdiction, and they typically require disputes to go through arbitration rather than state court.
That structure is why 605 Lending can charge about 780% APR, far above the rate caps many states set for licensed lenders.
| Case | Court | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Harris v. FSST Management Services (2022) | Northern District of Illinois | Class action alleging loans violate Illinois interest-rate law |
| Lessen v. FSST Management Services (February 2026) | Central District of Illinois | Class action including federal RICO claims; claims against the tribal defendants were paused pending a related appeal |
Court cases change over time. Check the court docket for the latest status.
Both cases allege that the tribe's role is limited and that the loans should follow Illinois law, which caps rates for unlicensed lenders at 9%. These are allegations that the courts have not finally decided.
Some states and courts have questioned whether high-rate tribal loans can be enforced against their residents. Borrowers in Michigan and Illinois in particular have challenged 605 Lending loans under state rate-cap and licensing laws.
605 Lending does not fund loans in 15 states and Washington D.C. If you live elsewhere, your state financial regulator can tell you how its lending laws treat tribal loans. See the full state list.
Call 833-605-LEND or email [email protected], explain the problem, and ask for a written response.
Submit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or call 855-411-2372. The CFPB forwards complaints to the company and tracks the response.
Your state's financial regulator or attorney general handles lending complaints and can explain whether your loan is enforceable where you live.
The BBB lists 605 Lending in Flandreau, South Dakota. Public reviews help other borrowers, as our reviews page shows.
If any answer is unclear, compare the cheaper alternatives before you sign.
605 Lending operates as a tribal lender under the laws of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. Class actions in Illinois argue its loans violate state law, and those cases are still being decided.
Yes. Class actions were filed in the Northern District of Illinois in 2022 and the Central District of Illinois in February 2026.
Contact 605 Lending first, then file with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or 855-411-2372, and with your state regulator or attorney general.
605 Lending says tribal law governs its loans. Some states and courts dispute this, so ask your state regulator how your state treats tribal loans.
Loan agreements typically require disputes to go through tribal arbitration rather than state court. Read that section before you sign.
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BBB profile, complaint themes, pros and cons.
Read the guidePayment dates, early payoff, deferral, and missed payments.
Read the guideThe full state-by-state list of where 605 Lending funds loans.
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