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Louisiana bad credit loans, loan laws and local help

The rules lenders follow in Louisiana, what a loan can cost and where to find free help. Checked against state sources on September 23, 2026.

Louisiana at a glance

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BadCreditMD is not a lender or broker. A lending network partner shares requests with lenders, who set their own rates and decide whether to lend. There is no fee to use our service. See disclosures.

Last updated .

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What a loan can cost in Louisiana

Examples at an illustrative rate, never above Louisiana's cap for the amount. They are not quotes.

Representative example

Amount borrowed
$500
Annual percentage rate (APR)
29.99%
Repayment
12 monthly payments
Payment
$48.74
Finance charge
$84.88
Total of payments
$584.88

Example: a $500 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $48.74 costs $584.88 in total, including a finance charge of $84.88. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.

Representative example

Amount borrowed
$1,000
Annual percentage rate (APR)
29.99%
Repayment
12 monthly payments
Payment
$97.48
Finance charge
$169.76
Total of payments
$1,169.76

Example: a $1,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $97.48 costs $1,169.76 in total, including a finance charge of $169.76. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.

Representative example

Amount borrowed
$3,000
Annual percentage rate (APR)
29.99%
Repayment
12 monthly payments
Payment
$292.45
Finance charge
$509.40
Total of payments
$3,509.40

Example: a $3,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $292.45 costs $3,509.40 in total, including a finance charge of $509.40. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.

Resources in Louisiana

Free and low-cost help in Louisiana, each with its official link and the date we checked it.

  • Lending regulator and complaints

    Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) licenses lenders in Louisiana.

    Check a lender's license File a complaint

    ofi.la.gov Checked September 23, 2026

  • Attorney general consumer protection

    Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.

    Contact consumer protection

    ag.louisiana.gov Checked September 23, 2026

  • 211

    Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.

    Find your local 211

    211la.org Checked September 23, 2026

  • Legal aid

    Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.

    Find legal aid

    slls.org Checked September 23, 2026

  • Nonprofit credit counseling

    Help with a budget or a debt management plan.

    Find a nonprofit counselor

    nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026

  • Benefits portal

    Check whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in Louisiana.

    Check benefits

    dcfs.louisiana.gov Checked September 23, 2026

  • 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

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 Louisiana

Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.

Allowed in Louisiana: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.

Lending law in Louisiana
ProductStatusAPR capAmountTermLicenseLaw
Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4][5][6] Allowed Limit depends on loan size Not set by statute Not set by statute Licensed Lender license La. R.S. 9:3510 et seq.; rate tiers at R.S. 9:3519; loan broker licensing at R.S. 9:3572.1 et seq.; 2026 Regular Session HB 545 and HB...
Title loans[7][6] AllowedHigh-cost loan Limit depends on loan size Not set by statute At least 2 months Licensed Lender license La. R.S. 9:3578 et seq.; title pawns separately regulated under Louisiana pawnbroker law
Payday loans[8][9] AllowedHigh-cost loan Fee cap Up to $740 Not set by statute Deferred Presentment and Small Loan lender license 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.
Rate, fee and license rules in Louisiana

Installment and personal loans

Rate cap
Tiered maximum loan finance charge under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law: 36% per year on the unpaid principal up to $1,400; 27% per year on the portion from $1,400 to $4,000; 24% per year on the portion from $4,000 to $7,000; 21% per year on the portion above $7,000. Minimum finance charge of $15 (advances up to $200) or $25 (advances over $200) in lieu of other finance charges.
Fees
Minimum loan finance charge $15 or $25 depending on advance amount; origination fee up to $75 on a consumer loan or revolving loan account per 2026 HB 545 (Act, 2026 Regular Session).
License
Licensed Lender license (Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, La. R.S. 9:3510 et seq.), issued by the Office of Financial Institutions (OFI); separately, a Loan Broker license (R.S. 9:3572.1 et seq.) is required to broker consumer loans for compensation.

Title loans

License
Licensed Lender license (Consumer Credit Law) for title loans structured as consumer loans, issued by OFI; a separate pawnbroker license applies if structured as a title pawn.

Payday loans

Rate cap
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.

Rent and jobs in Louisiana

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

Rent and unemployment in Louisiana
MeasureValueYear
Fair market rent, 2 bedroom (monthly)[10]$1,138FY2026
Unemployment rate[11]4.2%2026-08

Guides for Louisiana borrowers

By credit score

By amount

Articles about Louisiana

Check your options in Louisiana

Check your optionsYour request goes to a lending network partner, who shares it with lenders. Lenders set their own rates and decide whether to lend. There is no fee to use our service.

Louisiana questions

Does Louisiana law allow payday loans?

Louisiana law allows payday loans. State law caps the fee rather than the APR. Source: 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.

What is the most a lender can charge in Louisiana?

By loan type in Louisiana: Installment and personal loans: Limit depends on loan size. Title loans: Limit depends on loan size. Payday loans: Fee cap.

Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Louisiana?

You can file a complaint with Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Louisiana on this page.

How do I check a lender's license in Louisiana?

Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) licenses lenders in Louisiana. Use the license link under Resources in Louisiana on this page to check a lender before you share your information.

Is there free help paying bills in Louisiana?

Yes. Resources in Louisiana on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.

Nearby states

Sources

  1. ofi.la.gov. La. R.S. 9:3510 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. Justia. law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-9/rs-9-3519. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. Justia. law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-9/rs-9-3572-2. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  4. legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  5. legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  6. ofi.la.gov. Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  7. legis.la.gov. La. R.S. 9:3578 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  8. ofi.la.gov. La. R.S. 9:3578.1 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  9. ofi.la.gov. Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  10. National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Louisiana. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  11. 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.