Payday loans in Louisiana

Payday loans for bad credit in Louisiana

Payday loans are allowed in Louisiana from state-licensed lenders (Deferred Presentment and Small Loan lender license, issued by OFI under the Louisiana...). Here are the limits Louisiana law sets, what a typical loan can cost, and where to get free help if you need it.

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Part of the Louisiana guide

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What Louisiana law allows

Payday loans in Louisiana
ProductStatusAPR capAmountTermLicenseLaw
Payday loans[1][2] Allowed Fee cap Up to $740 Not set by statute Deferred Presentment and Small Loan lender license, issued by OFI under the Louisiana... La. R.S. 9:3578.1 et seq.; fee cap and post-maturity rate at R.S. 9:3578.4, as amended by Acts 2025, No. 510, effective August 1, 2025
Verified against the statute and regulator on September 23, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the regulator before you borrow.
The rules in full

Payday loans

Rate cap
No separate APR cap stated in percentage terms in sources reviewed; regulated by a flat per-transaction fee cap instead. If unpaid at maturity, licensee may charge 36% per annum for up to one year, then 18% per annum thereafter.
Fees
Fee may not exceed 16.75% of the face amount of the check (R.S. 9:3578.4). Acts 2025, No. 510 removed the former $45 per-transaction fee ceiling. If unpaid at maturity: 36% per annum for up to one year, then 18% per annum. No other fees beyond those the Act allows (plus actual returned-check fee reimbursement once per check).
License
Deferred Presentment and Small Loan lender license, issued by OFI under the Louisiana Deferred Presentment and Small Loan Act.

Full detail for every loan type: Louisiana lending laws.

Money snapshot for Louisiana

Louisiana household data
MeasureValueYear
Fair market rent, 2 bedroom (monthly)[3]$1,138FY2026
Population[4]4,597,7402024
Unemployment rate[5]4.2%2026-08

Other options in Louisiana

Worth checking whatever your credit: these can cost less than a high-rate loan.

  • Emergency loans in Louisiana: allowed under Louisiana law; see its limits and license rules.
  • Installment loans in Louisiana: allowed under Louisiana law; see its limits and license rules.
  • Personal loans in Louisiana: allowed under Louisiana law; see its limits and license rules.
  • Title loans in Louisiana: allowed under Louisiana law; see its limits and license rules.
  • Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs). Federal credit unions may offer small loans of up to $2,000 with terms of up to 12 months and an APR no higher than 28%, under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21). You usually need to be a member.
  • Nonprofit credit counseling. A counselor accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling can help you build a budget or a debt management plan.
  • Ask your creditor for a payment plan. Utilities, hospitals and many lenders offer hardship or extended payment plans if you ask before you miss a payment.
  • Local assistance. Call 211, or visit 211.org, for emergency help with rent, utilities and food in Louisiana.

See every loan type Louisiana law allows.

Payday loans in nearby states

Sources

  1. ofi.la.gov. La. R.S. 9:3578.1 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. ofi.la.gov. Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Louisiana. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Vintage 2024 National and State Population Estimates. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), All States, Seasonally Adjusted. Retrieved September 23, 2026.

Important disclosures

APRs vary by lender and state in Louisiana. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.

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  • Questions about a lender licensed in Louisiana? Contact the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) or file a state complaint.
  • You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.