EWA (Earned Wage Access) differs fundamentally from a loan because it provides employees access to wages they’ve already earned rather than offering new debt.
EWA doesn’t involve borrowing money or creating a liability. Instead, it offers early access to wages already worked for, so there’s no obligation to repay a lender.
With EWA, employees access their own earnings, not an external loan amount. This liquidity service essentially advances what they’ve already earned, helping smooth cash flow without relying on credit.
The small transaction fee associated with EWA is simply a charge for immediate access, not an interest rate or finance charge. Unlike loans, which add interest over time, EWA has no accruing costs or additional debt risk.