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Payday loans in Washington

Payday loans for bad credit in Washington

Payday loans are allowed in Washington from state-licensed lenders (Small loan). Here are the limits Washington law sets, what a typical loan can cost, and where to get free help if you need it.

Last updated .

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Part of the Washington guide

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What Washington law allows

Payday loans in Washington
ProductStatusAPR capAmountTermLicenseLaw
Payday loans[1][2][3] Allowed Fee cap Up to $700 Up to 45 days Small loan RCW 31.45.073
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
Small loans (payday loans) under the Check Cashers and Sellers Act, RCW 31.45.073, are capped by combined interest-and-fee percentages rather than a flat APR: up to 15 percent of the first 500 dollars of principal and up to 10 percent of principal above 500 dollars, combined interest and fees.
Fees
15 percent of principal up to 500 dollars; 10 percent of principal above 500 dollars up to the loan cap; the director of DFI may by rule exclude certain fees from these limits.
License
Small loan (payday lender) / check casher-seller license under RCW chapter 31.45, issued by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.

Full detail for every loan type: Washington lending laws.

Money snapshot for Washington

Washington household data
MeasureValueYear
Fair market rent, 2 bedroom (monthly)[4]$2,072FY2026
Population[5]7,958,1802024
Unemployment rate[6]4.9%2026-08

Other options in Washington

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

  • Emergency loans in Washington: allowed under Washington law; see its limits and license rules.
  • Installment loans in Washington: allowed under Washington law; see its limits and license rules.
  • Personal loans in Washington: allowed under Washington 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 Washington.

See every loan type Washington law allows.

Payday loans in nearby states

Sources

  1. app.leg.wa.gov. RCW 31.45.073. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. dfi.wa.gov. Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. dfi.wa.gov/complaints/payday-loan. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  4. National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Washington. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Vintage 2024 National and State Population Estimates. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  6. 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 Washington. 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 Washington? Contact the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) or file a state complaint.
  • You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.