Resources in Colorado
Free and low-cost help in Colorado, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator) licenses lenders in Colorado.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
coag.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
211colorado.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
coloradolegalservices.org Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Help with a budget or a debt management plan.
nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026
Benefits portal
Check whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in Colorado.
co.colorado.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Federal complaints
Complaints about any lender, to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Submit a complaint to the CFPB
consumerfinance.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
More Colorado resources appear here as we check each source.
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). 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.
- 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.
- Credit-builder loans: a small loan held in savings while you pay it off, which can help build a payment history.
- Secured credit cards: a card backed by a deposit you make, which can help build credit when you pay on time.
The rules lenders follow in Colorado
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in Colorado: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4] | Allowed | Limit depends on loan size | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Supervised Lender License | Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-1-101 et seq., Section 5-2-201 et seq. |
| Title loans[4] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | 36% APR | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Supervised Lender License | Colo. Rev. Stat. Title 5; Colorado Consumer Credit Transactions rules per Division of Banking |
| Payday loans[5][3][4] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | 36% APR | Not set by statute | At least 6 months | Deferred Deposit Lender license | Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-3.1-101 et seq., as amended by Proposition 111 and HB23-1229 |
| 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.
Rate, fee and license rules in Colorado
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Summarized in the statute; read the full rule.
- License
- Supervised Lender License issued by the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit (UCCC Administrator).
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Title loans in Colorado are not a separately licensed product with their own statute; they are treated as consumer loans under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code and are subject to the general 36% APR usury/rate ceiling that also applies to other consumer credit transactions per recent reform.
- Fees
- Origination, documentation, or processing fees are allowed but must not push the combined effective APR above 36%.
- License
- Supervised Lender License issued by the Colorado Division of Banking / Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit (no separate title-loan license).
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- Summarized in the statute; read the full rule.
- Fees
- Summarized in the statute; read the full rule.
- License
- Deferred Deposit Lender license (Supervised Lender License under UCCC) issued by the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit.
Rent and jobs in Colorado
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for Colorado borrowers
By credit score
- Credit score 300 to 499
- Credit score 500 to 529
- Credit score 530 to 559
- Credit score 560 to 579
- Credit score 580 to 669
- Credit score 670 to 739
By amount
Articles about Colorado
Check your options in Colorado
Colorado questions
Does Colorado law allow payday loans?
Colorado law allows payday loans. The cost limit is 36% APR. Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-3.1-101 et seq., as amended by Proposition 111 and HB23-1229.
What is the most a lender can charge in Colorado?
By loan type in Colorado: Installment and personal loans: Limit depends on loan size. Title loans: 36% APR. Payday loans: 36% APR.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Colorado?
You can file a complaint with Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Colorado on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Colorado?
Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator) licenses lenders in Colorado. Use the license link under Resources in Colorado on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Colorado?
Yes. Resources in Colorado on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Nearby states
- WyomingAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
- New MexicoAllowed 36% APR
- UtahAllowedNo rate limit in state law No rate limit
- NebraskaAllowed 24% APR (top tier)
- KansasAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
Sources
- coag.gov. Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-1-101 et seq., Section 5-2-201 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1148. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1229. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- coag.gov. Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ballotpedia.org. Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-3.1-101 et seq., as amended by Proposition 111 and HB23-1229. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Colorado. 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 Colorado. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
- BadCreditMD is not a lender or broker and does not make loans or credit decisions. When you submit a request, a lending network partner shares it with third-party lenders, and those lenders or the partner may pay us a fee for each referral. The lenders decide whether to offer you a loan.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in Colorado? Contact the Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.