Apply for an Emerald Advance® Loan, and you could get money within minutes of approval
H&R BLOCK EMERALD ADVANCE® LOAN
Need a boost during the holiday season? Emerald Advance® Loan appointments are now open! Apply in person from Nov. 2 through Dec. 30, 2026.
By Pathward®, N.A. Terms apply.
*The Emerald Advance® Loan is originated by Pathward®, N.A., who is the lender.
Apply in person at select H&R Block locations. Save time by creating a MyBlock account before your appointment.
If approved, you can choose to deposit the funds onto an Emerald Card or into a Spruce account, then use MyBlock to monitor your loan.
Stress a little less knowing this loan could help you pay off bills or ease some of the financial burden of the holidays.
What to know when choosing a loan amount:
For every $50 you borrow, you'll accrue approximately $1.48 in interest every 30 days.
You can pay using any debit card by logging in to MyBlock.
Pay with any debit card by calling 866-852-9250 and following the prompts.
If you complete your taxes with H&R Block and receive a refund, you can choose to repay your loan from your tax refund proceeds.
Make a check or money order payable to Pathward and mail it to:
Pathward, N.A.
C/O Emerald Financial Services
PO BOX 4521
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4521
Be sure to include your name and loan number on the check/money order. Your loan number can be found in MyBlock.
If approved, loan funds will be deposited to your Spruce account or loaded on your Emerald Card.
Spruce fintech platform is built by H&R Block, which is not a bank. Spruce℠ Spending and Savings Accounts established at, and the Spruce debit card and the H&R Block Emerald Prepaid Mastercard® are issued by, Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard®. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Additional fees, conditions, and terms apply to how you use your Emerald Card or Spruce account. Consult your Cardholder Agreement or Spruce Spending Account Agreement for details.
Use the MyBlock app to make payments and stay up-to-date on your Emerald Advance® Loan. It’s easy, fast, and secure.
Emerald Advance® Loan is a fixed-rate short term loan ranging from $400 to $1,750 that must be repaid in full on or before March 31, 2027.
Interest: The Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”) is 35.9%.
Late fee: If the loan is not paid in full within 14 days of its due date of March 31, 2027, the account will be charged a $30 late fee and additional interest.
Other fees: Additional fees may apply to the use of your Emerald Card® or Spruce account, as outlined in the respective Account Agreements.
Your Emerald Advance Loan funds can be loaded onto an Emerald Card or deposited into your existing Spruce Spending Account. You can use funds for emergency expenses, shopping, medical bills, and more.
To be eligible, you must:
No, you are not required to file your taxes with H&R Block to apply or be approved for a loan.
To apply, make an appointment at a participating H&R Block location during the offer period. You will meet with an H&R Block associate who will guide you through the application process.
You can apply online if you received an invitation code. To apply online, click on the secure link in the invitation email, log in to MyBlock, and enter your unique invitation code.
Don’t worry! You can make an appointment at an H&R Block location. You will meet with an H&R Block associate who will guide you through the application process.
You are welcome to walk into a participating office, but you may experience a long wait time. Starting in late October, you can schedule an appointment time that’s convenient for you during the Nov. 2-Dec. 30 application window.
To apply, you'll need to bring your valid government-issued photo ID and a copy of your most recent pay statement or other proof of current income dated within the past 31 days.
No, a valid Social Security Number is required to apply.
Loan amount and approval are based on assessment of your creditworthiness. Both credit and non-credit information, such as credit history and ability to repay, are considered in the loan decision. Pathward, N.A., the lender, makes all loan decisions.
No, though you can apply for an Emerald Advance® Loan at an H&R Block retail office, H&R Block is not the lender. The Emerald Advance® Loan is originated by Pathward®, N.A., who is the lender.
Income verification is a component of loan underwriting and helps the lender determine that the loan amount you request is affordable and that you have the ability to repay.
No. Emerald Advance® Loans are individual loans and co-borrowers are not allowed.
You can request and review your free report by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
No, collateral is not required. The Emerald Advance® Loan is an unsecured loan.
Of course! If you receive a pre-qualified offer, you will be able to review important loan details, such as the APR, pre-qualified amount, and estimated loan payment, before you finalize your application.
If your loan application is approved and you accept the loan offer, you will have the opportunity to select how you would like to receive your loan funds.
If you apply online and are approved, you can load funds onto an existing Emerald Card or deposit funds into a Spruce account.
If you apply in person and are approved, you can load funds onto a new or existing Emerald Card or an existing Spruce account.
Yes, monthly payments are permitted, though they are not required. There are no pre-payment penalties, even if you completely pay off the loan before it is due. In fact, that's a great way to save yourself some interest!
Payments will be first applied to any accrued and unpaid interest, then the remaining amount will be applied towards the principal balance. If you do not pay the loan off by the due date and owe a late fee, your payment will first be applied to satisfy the late fee then the past due amount owed.
The loan is due in full on March 31, 2027, but there is a 14-day grace period. If we do not receive your loan payment in full within 14 days of the due date, a $30 late fee will be applied to your loan.
If you make a payment online, we will consider the payment effective as of the day you authorize the payment, even if it doesn't process until the next business day. Please note, this process does not apply if the authorized payment account has insufficient funds to make the payment in full.
To make a payment, you can: