TechMONEY WATCH
FTC sending $15.8 million to users of cash advance app
The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than two million payments to users of a cash advance app; check your spam folder before you check your couch.
The Short: the best minute of this segment, cut vertical for your thumb. More about this Short
At a glance
- First reported by The Hill: “Check your email: $15.8 million being sent to users of cash advance app, FTC says”.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 6:09 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Federal Trade Commission says more than two million people are getting payments from a total of fifteen point eight million dollars tied to a cash advance app.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWith us is Philomena Achterberg, chief executive of Slightly Early Financial Technologies. Ms. Achterberg, whose money is this?
Philomena AchterbergHank, tonight is about generosity.
Philomena AchterbergWe are giving back a full fifteen million dollars to our community, well, a portion of that, but the spirit is full.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo is that a yes that the FTC is the one sending it?
Philomena AchterbergWe are partners in the sending.
Philomena AchterbergI keep a gold stapler on my desk that says customer-first, and I looked at it for an hour before agreeing to partner.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA stapler.
Philomena AchterbergA very heavy one. Two million customers, two million reasons to smile, and I would say nearly a thousand of them already have, by email.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLet me ask you again. Did your company collect the money the FTC is now returning, yes or no?
Philomena AchterbergWe provided speed.
Philomena AchterbergCustomers paid a modest speed appreciation, which is a hundred percent voluntary, or ninety percent, depending on who you ask. My stapler says a hundred.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThank you for the gift, Ms. Achterberg. I'll check my email for the receipt.
Philomena AchterbergDoes the stapler count as a receipt?
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