Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today filed a lawsuit against Bridge It, Inc., doing business as Brigit, for Brigit’s violations of Minnesota’s payday lending laws. AG Ellison alleges that Brigit is an unlicensed, unregistered, consumer small-loan and consumer short-term lender making a modern, online variation of payday loans. Brigit has issued tens of thousands of small and short-term loans to Minnesotans without complying with the requirements the Minnesota Legislature has created for those making certain types of loans.

“As Attorney General, it’s my job to protect consumers from businesses that try to evade the law and take advantage of people who take desperate measures to afford their lives. Regardless of how Brigit markets itself, the advances it offers consumers in need of cash are clearly loans. The legislature has wisely chosen to regulate lenders like Brigit carefully to keep short-term borrowers from being exploited and falling even further into debt. To operate in Minnesota, Brigit needs to comply with these laws when advancing funds for profit, as all payday lenders do. I’m bringing this lawsuit because it’s my job to protect consumers and enforce the law to protect consumers.” – AG Ellison