In 2015, founder James Garvey experienced a personal credit setback that sparked a realization: the financial system was failing millions of Americans who lacked access to fair credit-building tools. This insight led him to found Self Financial (originally Self Lender) with a clear mission - to increase economic inclusion and financial resilience by empowering people to build credit and build savings simultaneously. What started as a solution to a personal problem has evolved into a transformative fintech platform that has helped over 4 million people establish credit foundations and achieve their financial goals.
Self Financial operates at the intersection of technology and financial inclusion, offering products like Credit Builder Accounts, secured credit cards, and rent reporting that all report to the three major credit bureaus. The company has garnered recognition from leading publications including NPR, The New York Times, Forbes, and Business Insider. With a 4.9/5 rating on the Apple App Store from over 286,000 reviews, Self has become the Official Credit Building App of the San Antonio Spurs. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Self continues to expand its reach and impact, committed to challenging the status quo of the credit industry and providing accessible tools to the 100+ million Americans with limited or no credit history.