Last reviewed: October 2, 2026
Disclaimer: This review summarizes publicly available information, including customer reviews, forum posts such as Reddit, BBB and Trustpilot listings, court records, regulator actions, and news reports. It is not the opinion of MCAFax. MCAFax cannot confirm or deny any allegations, complaints, or claims described here. Information may be outdated or incomplete. MCAFax is not affiliated with this lender. This is not legal or financial advice. Lenders who believe something is inaccurate can contact info@mcafax.com for review.
Summary verdict
Yellowstone Capital was a large merchant cash advance provider. In a consent order and judgment approved by the court in January 2025, the settling Yellowstone respondents were "permanently barred from engaging in any Merchant Cash Advance business". They neither admitted nor denied the allegations (NY AG consent order and judgment). Earlier, in 2021, Yellowstone settled an FTC case for $9.8 million (FTC). The website yellowstonecap.com was still live when we checked on October 2, 2026, and still invites applications (Yellowstone).
Paper Grade: D paper
Yellowstone's site says "We say yes to more small businesses, regardless of collateral or credit" (Yellowstone). That is a D-paper profile. Paper grade describes the borrower profile this lender targets, not the lender's quality.
Research-Based Reputation Score: 1.0 / 10 (reputation rank: tied #63 of 72 lenders scored, as of October 2, 2026)
How we got there: start at 5.0, then +0.5 for an A+ BBB rating without accreditation and +1 because BBB lists the business as started in 2009 (BBB). Then −5 for an industry ban: the court-approved NY AG consent order and judgment bars the settling respondents from the MCA business (Consent order and judgment). Then −3 for a final order about borrower treatment: the FTC's stipulated order (S.D.N.Y. 1:20-cv-06023) required a $9.837 million payment and prohibits misrepresenting terms and making unauthorized withdrawals (FTC). The total falls below our floor, so the score is 1.0. BBB also shows a government-action alert on the profile (BBB).
About the Paper Grade: it reflects only the borrower profile and deal type the lender targets (stated credit, time-in-business and revenue minimums, and product type). It is not a judgment of the lender's quality. A = strong credit (about 625–650+), established businesses, APR-priced loans or lines. B = fair credit (about 600+), short-term or factor-rate products. C = credit about 500–599, younger businesses, MCA or revenue-based, or sales-based platform financing with no credit check. D = minimal credit requirements, very new businesses, stacked positions or high-risk industries. Lawsuits and regulator actions never change the Paper Grade.
About the Research-Based Reputation Score (1–10, half-points): it summarizes public signals and is not the opinion of MCAFax. Every lender starts at 5.0. Points are added for BBB accreditation and an A+ rating, years in business, strong Trustpilot ratings, and a clean record (no regulator orders or court judgments in which the lender itself is a named party). Points are subtracted for a BBB rating of C− or lower (−1), a BBB customer-review average below 2.5/5 (−0.5), recurring complaint themes (−0.5 to −1), and a pending class action (−0.5). Government actions are scored only when the lender itself is a named party: −1 for a settled action not about borrowers, −2 for a regulator consent order with a penalty and no admission, −3 for active enforcement or a final order about borrower treatment, and −5 for an industry ban or court finding of liability. The lowest score, 1.0, is reserved for lenders under an industry ban or a final fraud judgment. Ratings we could not read score zero, and routine collection suits are not scored. Every point applied to this lender is listed above. Ranks are as of the date shown; MCAFax cannot confirm or deny any allegation counted here.
At a glance
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