What Louisiana law allows
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Help in Louisiana
Money snapshot for Louisiana
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.
Payday loans in nearby states
- MississippiAllowed See the rules
- ArkansasNot allowed Not allowed
- AlabamaAllowed Not verified
- TexasAllowed No numeric cap
- TennesseeAllowed Fee cap
Sources
- ofi.la.gov. La. R.S. 9:3578.1 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ofi.la.gov. Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Louisiana. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Vintage 2024 National and State Population Estimates. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- 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.
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