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Payday loans in Wisconsin

Payday loans for bad credit in Wisconsin

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

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Last updated .

Part of the Wisconsin guide

What Wisconsin law allows

Payday loans in Wisconsin
ProductStatusAPR capAmountTermLicenseLaw
Payday loans[1][2][3][4] AllowedNo rate limit in state law No rate limit Up to $1,500 Up to 3 months Payday lender license Wis. Stat. sec. 138.14
Verified against the statute and regulator on September 23, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the regulator before you borrow.

Bars place each APR cap on a 0 to 400% scale; the pin marks the cap. A striped bar means the statute sets no numeric cap.

The rules in full

Payday loans

Rate cap
Wis. Stat. sec. 138.14 imposes no cap on interest before the maturity date of a payday loan. After maturity, interest may not exceed 2.75 percent per month. A payday loan has a term of 90 days or less. Aggregate outstanding payday liability to all licensees may not exceed the lesser of 1,500 dollars or 35 percent of gross monthly income. A customer may repay a payday loan with one subsequent payday loan but may not repay that subsequent loan with another payday loan.
License
Payday lender license (Licensed Lender authority extended to payday loans) under Wis. Stat. sec. 138.14, issued by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).

Full detail for every loan type: Wisconsin lending laws.

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Rent and jobs in Wisconsin

Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.

Rent and unemployment in Wisconsin
MeasureValueYear
Fair market rent, 2 bedroom (monthly)[5]$1,287FY2026
Unemployment rate[6]3.2%2026-08

Other options in Wisconsin

Cheaper options to try first

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

  • Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs), capped at 28% APR under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21).
  • Nonprofit credit counseling through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
  • A payment plan from the company you owe, if you ask before you miss a payment.
  • 211 for help with rent, utilities and food: call 211 or visit 211.org.

More cheaper options in Wisconsin.

Other loan types allowed in Wisconsin

See every loan type Wisconsin law allows.

Payday loans in nearby states

  • MichiganAllowedHigh-cost loan Limit depends on loan size
  • MinnesotaAllowedHigh-cost loan 50% APR
  • IowaAllowedHigh-cost loan Fee cap
  • IllinoisAllowedHigh-cost loan 36% APR
  • IndianaAllowedHigh-cost loan Fee cap

Sources

  1. Justia. law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/chapter-138/section-138-14. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. dfi.wi.gov. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/information_memos/2023/im_2023_05. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  4. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Wis. Stat. sec. 138.14. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  5. National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Wisconsin. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), All States, Seasonally Adjusted. Retrieved September 23, 2026.

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Important disclosures

APRs vary by lender and state in Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin? Contact the Wisconsin 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.