States Where Payday Loans Are Illegal in 2024

Note: Updated in February 2024 to add information on the introduction of Idaho Senate Bill 1285.

Laws vary from state to state. In some states, vaping is prohibited. In New Hampshire, it’s illegal to collect seaweed at night. And in Alaska, it’s unlawful for a person to get drunk at a bar and remain on the premises.

If you’re looking to take out a payday loan, various state laws are in place to protect borrowers. Some states have taken steps to ban them. So, if you’re considering a payday loan, ensure your lender meets your state’s requirements.

Payday lending is illegal in 21 states and Washington, D.C.

States restrict payday lending by outlawing the product altogether or setting stringent interest rate caps or usury limits. Strict interest rate caps drive payday lenders out of the state and effectively end the practice.

3 states with specific restrictions

Connecticut: Bans assignment of wages to secure loans
Georgia: Prohibits all payday loans lower than $3,000
West Virginia: Has outlawed deferred presentment loans

12 states that have capped interest rates at 36%

Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota (as of Jan. 1, 2024), Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and South Dakota have all capped payday loan interest rates at 36%.

6 states and Washington, D.C. have even tighter interest rate caps

Arkansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia have even lower rate caps.

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Other state laws and payday loan interest rate caps

Here is a roundup of states’ laws:

Alabama

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 456.25%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: 10-31 days

Alaska

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 435%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Minimum 14 days

California

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 460%
Maximum loan amount: $300
Term: Max. 31 days

Delaware

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 391%
Maximum loan amount: $500 per loan, $1,000 max per borrower at one time
Term: Maximum 60 days

Florida

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 304%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: 7-31 days

Idaho

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 652%
Maximum loan amount: $1,000
Term: N/A

Update: In February 2024, the Idaho state legislature introduced Senate Bill 1285, which would impose new regulations to cap the interest rate that payday lenders may charge. If passed, the measure would add a new regulation capping payday loan interest rates at 36% of the principal loan amount.

Indiana

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 382%
Maximum loan amount: $550 or 20% of gross monthly income
Term: Minimum 14 days

Iowa

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 336%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Maximum 31 days

Kansas

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 391%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: 7 to 30 days

Kentucky

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 469%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: 7 to 30 days

Louisiana

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 478%
Maximum loan amount: $350
Term: Maximum 30 days

Maine

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 217%
Maximum loan amount: $2,000
Term: N/A

Michigan

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 370%
Maximum loan amount: $600
Term: Maximum 31 days

Mississippi

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 521%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Maximum of 30 days

Missouri

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 527%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Maximum 31 days

Nevada

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 652%
Maximum loan amount: 25% of expected gross monthly income
Term: Maximum 35 days

North Dakota

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 526%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Maximum 60 days

Ohio

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 138%
Maximum loan amount: $1,000
Term: Maximum 12 months

Oklahoma

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 203%
Maximum loan amount: $1,500
Term: Maximum 12 months

Oregon

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 154% per year
Maximum loan amount: $50,000
Term: Maximum 60 days

Rhode Island

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 261%
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Minimum 13 days

South Carolina

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 395%
Maximum loan amount: $550
Term: Maximum 31 days

Tennessee

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 460% on a 14-day loan
Maximum loan amount: $500
Term: Maximum 31 days

Texas

Legal: Yes, weakly regulated
Rate cap: 664%
Maximum loan amount: N/A
Term: Minimum seven days, maximum 180 days

Utah

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 652%
Maximum loan amount: No limit
Term: May not exceed 10 weeks

Virginia

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 173%
Maximum loan amount: $2,500
Term: Maximum 24 months

Washington

Legal: Yes, but heavily regulated
Rate cap: 391%
Maximum loan amount: The lesser of $700 or 30% of gross monthly income
Term: Maximum 45 days

Wisconsin

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 516%
Maximum loan amount: Lesser of either $1,500, including fees, or 35% of gross monthly income
Term: 90 days or less

Wyoming

Legal: Yes
Rate cap: 261%
Maximum loan amount: Not specified
Term: One calendar month

Tribal payday lenders can bypass state laws

Tribal payday loans are essentially the same in practice. The only actual difference between the two is the identity of the lender. Tribal payday loans are held by payday lenders who claim to operate out of Native American reservations, though they’re almost always entirely online.

Tribal lenders argue that they fall outside the jurisdiction of state and federal laws due to “tribal sovereign immunity.” Because of this, APRs are high, often more than 800%, even in states with strict caps on payday loan interest rates. Tribal lenders also offer larger loan amounts and longer repayment terms, meaning more time for that interest to accrue.

Pro tip: Before committing to any short-term loan, research the lender to ensure your lender is following your state’s laws. The lender’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page can be a good starting point.

Payday loans and the Military Lending Act

Regardless of state laws, if you’re a service member, payday lenders must meet specific requirements for those on active duty or their dependents as stipulated by federal law under the Military Lending Act (or MLA). For example, the APR charged can’t exceed 36% for payday loans. For this reason, some payday lenders will not offer loans to service members.

Pro tip: If you notice that the fine print of a loan application or lender web page states that military service members and their families are not eligible to borrow, the lender is unwilling to follow the terms set by the MLA. These are usually lenders to avoid, as they’re also most likely to try to sidestep state protections.

Better payday loan alternatives

Cash advance apps
Credit card balance transfers
Payday Alternative Loans
A credit card cash advance

The bottom line

Payday loans are dangerous. There’s a reason why they’re illegal in so many states. They lead to a cycle of debt that’s difficult to escape, and more than 90% of payday loan borrowers end up regretting their original payday loan.

However, if a payday loan is your only option, make sure they’re legal in your state and read the terms carefully to ensure you aren’t dealing with an unregulated tribal lender.

States Where Payday Loans are Illegal in 2023