Washington at a glance
- Personal loansAllowed 25% APR
- Installment loansAllowed 25% APR
- Emergency loansAllowed 25% APR
- Payday loansAllowed Fee cap
- Title loansNot allowed
Loan options in Washington
Every loan type we cover is listed, including the ones Washington law does not allow, so you can see why and what else can work.
- Personal loansAllowedA lump sum you repay in fixed monthly payments. See what your state allows and what a loan can cost.
- Installment loansAllowedFixed payments over months, not weeks. See your state's rate limits and a worked cost example.
- Emergency loansAllowedMoney for an urgent bill, usually a smaller installment loan. Check your state's limits before you borrow.
- Payday loansAllowedA short loan usually due in one payment on your next payday. Allowed in fewer states, so read the fee limits first.
- Title loansNot allowedA loan secured by your car title. Allowed in fewer states, and your car is at risk if you cannot repay.
Other ways to borrow
- Credit union payday alternative loans: small loans from federal credit unions with an APR capped at 28% under NCUA rules. (12 CFR 701.21)
- 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.
- Payment plans: many utilities, hospitals and lenders offer hardship plans if you ask before you miss a payment.
What a loan can cost in Washington
Worked examples at an illustrative rate, never above Washington's rate cap for that loan amount where the law sets one. They are examples, not quotes.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $500
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 25%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $47.52
- Finance charge
- $70.24
- Total of payments
- $570.24
Example: a $500 installment loan at 25% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $47.52 costs $570.24 in total, including a finance charge of $70.24. 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)
- 25%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $95.04
- Finance charge
- $140.48
- Total of payments
- $1,140.48
Example: a $1,000 installment loan at 25% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $95.04 costs $1,140.48 in total, including a finance charge of $140.48. 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)
- 25%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $285.13
- Finance charge
- $421.56
- Total of payments
- $3,421.56
Example: a $3,000 installment loan at 25% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $285.13 costs $3,421.56 in total, including a finance charge of $421.56. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Resources in Washington
Free and low-cost places to turn in Washington, each linked to its official source and dated when we last checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions licenses lenders in Washington. Check a lender's license here, and file a complaint if something goes wrong.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
dfi.wa.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Attorney general consumer protection
The attorney general's consumer protection office takes complaints about scams, unfair debt collection and other business practices.
atg.wa.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
211
Call 211 or visit your local 211 site to reach help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
wa211.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help for people with low incomes, including debt collection, repossession and eviction problems. Income limits vary.
nwjustice.org Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Nonprofit counselors can help you build a budget or set up a debt management plan. Look for an NFCC or FCAA member agency.
nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026
Benefits portal
The official site for checking whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in Washington, and for signing up.
dshs.wa.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Federal complaints
Submit a complaint 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.
- 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.
The rules lenders follow in Washington
These rules protect you as a borrower and explain the labels above. Each one links to the source we took it from. How we research state rules.
Allowed in Washington: installment and personal loans and payday loans. Not allowed: title loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4] | Allowed | 25% APR | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Consumer loan company license under RCW chapter 31.04, issued by the Washington State... | RCW 31.04, esp. RCW 31.04.105 |
| Title loans[5][6][4] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | None. Washington has no title-lender license | RCW 31.04, esp. RCW 31.04.105 |
| Payday loans[7][8][9] | 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. | ||||||
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 Washington
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Under the Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.105, a licensee may lend money at a rate not to exceed 25 percent per annum calculated by the simple interest method (a statutory exception to Washington's general usury law).
- Fees
- RCW 31.04.105: nonrefundable prepaid origination fee not to exceed 4 percent of the first 20,000 dollars and 2 percent thereafter; delinquency charge up to 10 percent of the overdue installment; plus actual third-party fees, dishonored check fees approved by the director, up to 45 days of prepaid interest, and certain credit insurance premiums.
- License
- Consumer loan company license under RCW chapter 31.04, issued by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Not applicable; motor vehicle title-secured consumer loans are not an authorized product.
- Fees
- Not applicable.
- License
- None. Washington has no title-lender license; any consumer loan would require a consumer loan company license under RCW 31.04 and be capped at 25 percent per annum. (RCW 19.86.130 was checked and addresses prima facie effect of state CPA judgments, not title loans.).
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.
Money snapshot for Washington
Guides for Washington borrowers
Check your options in Washington
Washington questions
Does Washington law allow payday loans?
Washington law allows payday loans. State law caps the fee rather than the APR. Source: RCW 31.45.073.
What is the most a lender can charge in Washington?
By loan type in Washington: Installment and personal loans: 25% APR. Title loans: Not allowed. Payday loans: Fee cap.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Washington?
You can file a complaint with Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Washington on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Washington?
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions licenses lenders in Washington. Use the license link under Resources in Washington on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Washington?
Yes. Resources in Washington on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Can I get a loan in Washington with a 500 credit score?
Lenders look at more than your score, such as income and existing debts, and each sets its own rules. BadCreditMD cannot tell you whether a lender will approve you.
Nearby states
Sources
- app.leg.wa.gov. RCW 31.04, esp. RCW 31.04.105. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/information/usury-law. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/information/exceptions-usury-law. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.wa.gov. Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- Justia. law.justia.com/codes/washington/2005/title31/31.04.025.html. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- app.leg.wa.gov. RCW 31.04, esp. RCW 31.04.105. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- app.leg.wa.gov. RCW 31.45.073. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.wa.gov. Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.wa.gov/complaints/payday-loan. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Washington. 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
Illustrative range for installment loans in Washington: APRs from 5.99% to 25%, where the state APR cap is 25%. This range is not a quote; each lender sets its own rates. Your APR depends on your credit, income, state and the lender.
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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.