Terms of Service

By accessing or using the HandUp platform (“Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform. HandUp reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

HandUp provides software infrastructure that enables individuals to create, document, and manage personal loans between people who know and trust each other. HandUp is not a bank, lender, credit union, or financial institution. HandUp does not lend money, guarantee loans, or provide financial advice.

The Platform facilitates: loan request creation, private invite-based funding, automated repayment scheduling via ACH, loan agreement generation, and an on-platform reliability signal (HandUp Reliability) computed from completed payment history.

You must meet all of the following to use HandUp:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a U.S. resident
• Have a valid phone number capable of receiving SMS
• Complete identity verification through our KYC provider
• Provide accurate and truthful information

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. You must notify HandUp immediately of any unauthorized use. HandUp is not liable for losses arising from unauthorized access to your account.

Loans created on HandUp are agreements between individual users. HandUp is not a party to any loan agreement. By creating or participating in a loan, you acknowledge:

• The loan is an agreement between you and the other party, recorded in a written promissory note — amount, rate, schedule and payment terms — as a PDF you both keep
• HandUp does not guarantee repayment or assume liability for defaults
• Interest rates, terms, and amounts are set by the parties involved
• Loans may have tax implications (see IRS AFR guidance provided in the Platform)
• HandUp generates loan documentation for convenience; you are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws

Bank transfers between borrowers and lenders are processed through our payments partner, Dwolla, and its financial-institution partner. HandUp is not a bank or a lender, and money in transit isn't FDIC-insured. HandUp charges the following fees:

• Annual platform fee: 1.0% added to the borrower's interest rate
• Origination fee: $40.00 one-time fee, deducted from the amount disbursed or, if the borrower chooses, added to the borrower's first scheduled payment(s). For a loan logged after it was made, it is added to the borrower's first scheduled payment(s).
• Per-lender surcharge: for pooled loans, a surcharge is added to the origination fee for each lender beyond the first. It scales with the loan term ($4.00 per additional lender per year of term, rounded to the cent, with a $5.00 minimum), reflecting the recurring ACH transfer cost each lender adds over the life of the loan. For a loan with one lender the origination fee is shown before loan creation; for a pooled request the final fee depends on how many lenders join. The loan agreement states the final figure.

The annual platform fee is included in the borrower's interest rate shown during loan creation. That rate does not include the origination fee.

HandUp computes an internal reputation tier (HandUp Reliability) from a borrower's completed payment history on the Platform. This signal is visible to people the borrower invites to fund a loan and is intended only as an on-platform reference. HandUp does not report payment activity to consumer credit bureaus, does not sell or share this signal with third parties, and is not a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) data furnisher.

Users must complete identity verification (KYC) before any money moves on a loan they are part of — for example, before offering or funding a loan, or accepting an offer. This process is conducted through Plaid and may include government-issued ID verification, biometric selfie matching, and confirming your date of birth, address, and Social Security number. By using the Platform, you consent to this verification process.

You may not use HandUp to:

• Create fraudulent or fictitious loan agreements
• Launder money or finance illegal activities
• Inflate your HandUp Reliability tier through fabricated loans or sham repayments
• Harass, threaten, or coerce other users
• Circumvent identity verification or security measures
• Use the Platform for commercial lending operations

To the maximum extent permitted by law, HandUp and its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to: loan defaults, payment failures, tax consequences, or disputes between users.

HandUp's total liability shall not exceed the amount of platform fees you have paid in the 12 months preceding the claim.

• HandUp is not a bank, lender, or financial advisor
• Loans facilitated through HandUp, and money in transit, are not FDIC-insured
• HandUp does not guarantee the creditworthiness of any user
• Tax guidance provided in the Platform is informational only and does not constitute tax advice
• The Platform is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind

HandUp may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms or for any reason with reasonable notice. Upon termination, active loans remain in effect and payment obligations continue. You may request account deletion at any time, subject to data retention requirements.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

Questions about these Terms may be directed to: legal@trusthandup.com