Arkansas Payday Loan Laws and Regulations
Find out if short-term Payday Loans are legal in Arkansas and what amounts, interest rates and repayment terms are set by the state's Legislation.
Legal Payday Loans Online for Arkansas residents
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Arkansas Payday Loans Rates and Terms
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Legal Status
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Legal Status The status of a loan type according to the Federal laws and regulations. What concerns Payday Loans some states consider them legal, some – illegal and some restrict them in terms of amounts and interest rates. |
Illegal |
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Maximum APR
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Maximum APR The maximum percentage allowed that actually represents annual cost of your loan. The APR is based on several things, including the amount you borrow, the interest rate and costs you’re being charged, and the length of your loan. |
17.00% |
You must have heard that Payday Loans are prohibited in Arkansas, you may find other options to get instant cash advance permitted by the state's laws. Study the rules and regulations concerning short-term payday loans in Arkansas. Find available alternatives.
Table of Contents:
Are Payday Loans legal in Arkansas?
Why are Payday Loans illegal in Arkansas?
Arkansas Payday Loans online laws
Does Arkansas law allow Payday Loans for bad credit borrowers?
Arkansas Payday Loans news - latest changes
Are Payday Loans Legal in Arkansas?
Short-term Payday Loans in Arkansas are illegal since 2011 according to
. These documents also cap the APR at 17%.
Remember that regardless of this, there are other loan options available to cover your urgent expenses fast.
As we can see, Arkansas Attorney General, 323 Center Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201 caps all short-term loans at 17.00% APR.
For other details and information on Payday Loans in Arkansas contact Arkansas Attorney General, 323 Center Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Why are Payday Loans illegal in Arkansas?
The Government considers Payday Loans too expensive and often associated with lenders' predatory practices. That's why in Arkansas Payday Loans are illegal since 2011 when the Check Casher Act was passed and the 17% APR cap was set. It caused most lenders to stop issuing short-term small-dollar loans as it became not profitable. Still, there still exist some banks and online companies offering similar types of cash advances suitable to cover any unexpected emergencies.
Arkansas Payday Loan laws
Payday Loans in Arkansas share the same characteristics as short-term cash advances in other states but due to high costs and short repayment terms, they are prohibited in Arkansas. Lenders can't legally operate because of the rate cap set by the authorities. But we can let you compare other options available in Arkansas.
If you haven't succeeded in finding the necessary cash advance, there are always other options to receive the necessary funds in Arkansas:
- Unsecured Installment Loans,
- Bad Credit Personal Loans,
- Title Loans,
- Check Cashing,
- Pawn Shops, etc.
Arkansas Payday Loans online laws
Usually, the state's Payday Loan laws concern both storefront and online lenders. Online lenders should also operate in accordance with all relevant state and federal laws. Otherwise, they may be liable to Arkansas Attorney General, 323 Center Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201 for law violations.
For years, the Attorney General’s office has worked hard to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas. However, not all the efforts were successful as usurious loans are still available online (regardless of the fact that storefront payday lenders are no longer available in Arkansas).
Does Arkansas law allow Payday Loans for bad credit borrowers?
The average credit score in Arkansas is 657, placing it in the fair range. But it doesn't mean that those who have worse credit can't apply for the necessary cash advance in Arkansas.
- First of all, there're some companies in Arkansas providing similar Payday loan services to borrowers with both good and bad credit scores.
- Secondly, you can always find a cosigner to increase your chances of being approved for a bad credit Payday Loan.
- Find out how to improve your credit score and do your best to do it fast.
- Or consider taking out bad credit Installment Loans, or bad credit Personal Loans.
Arkansas Payday Loans news - latest changes
There haven't been any relevant changes in Payday Loans regulations lately. Since they were made illegal the actions of the Attorney General were all aimed at stricter regulations which led to the last Payday lending company stopping their work in 2009.
Still, there are other ways to get instant cash advances similar to Payday Loans in Arkansas. For example, the U.S. Bank offered a Simple Loan product in Arkansas.
Arkansas Payday Loans historical background
| 1999 | The Check Cashers Act was passed to regulate check cashing and deferred presentment transactions businesses. |
| 2000s | Rent-a-Bank method was widely used to provide high cost short-term loans. |
| 2006 | The Military Lending Act effectively capped payday loans offered to the military at 36% APR. |
| November 6, 2019 | The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the 1999 Check Cashers’ Act was illegal which put an end of the payday loan industry in Arkansas. |
| 2008 - 2009 | The Arkansas Attorney General issued cease and desist letters to the state’s registered Check Cashers and took further action on illegal brokers. |
| August 11, 2009 | The last Payday Loan company closed. |
| 2018 | Some banks started offering loan products similar to Payday Loans with direct deposits with 70-88% APR. |
Arkansas Payday Loan alternatives
If you're looking for an instant cash advance in Arkansas but not a Payday Loan, consider other alternative ways to get the necessary funds:
- Apply for an Arkansas Installment Loan - $1000 - $5000 cash advance repaid over several months or years in equal installments.
- Sell some of your valuable stuff online or at a pawn shop.
- Apply for Arkansas Tribal loans. Tribal lenders can avoid state caps and limits as they operate outside the state regulations.
- Consider borrowing from a bank or credit union. U.S. Bank offers a Simple Loan product in Arkansas.
- Qualify for one of Federal or Arkansas state government assistance programs: the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or Food Stamp Program, etc.
