Iowa Payday Loan Laws and Regulations

To be on the safe side, it's always better to be aware of your rights. Study the laws, rules, and regulations concerning Payday Loans and other short-term cash advances in Iowa. 

Table of Contents:

Are Payday Loans legal in Iowa?

Iowa Payday Loan Terms and Amounts

Iowa Payday Loans online laws

Iowa Payday Loans interest rates, fees and other finance charges

Iowa Payday Loans direct lenders regulations

Iowa Payday Loans consumer information

Legitimate Payday Loans online with NO credit check in Iowa

Do Iowa laws allow Payday Loans for bad credit borrowers?

Legit Payday Loans in Iowa collection practices

Iowa Payday Loans legislation latest changes

Iowa Payday Loans historical background

Consider Iowa Payday Loans alternatives to get instant cash

Are Payday Loans Legal in Iowa?

Short-term Payday Loans in Iowa are legal in the state of and are mostly regulated through  Iowa Code Ann. § 533D.1 et seq..

Delayed Deposit Services Chapter 533D.pdf

The Payday Lending legislation covers all the parts of the process concerning:

• Payday Loan amounts
• Payday Loan repayment terms
• Payday Loan online direct lenders
• Payday Loan stores near you
• Payday Loan interest rates and other fees
• Payday Loan collecting practices
• Payday Loan default penalties
• The number of outstanding Payday Loans as well as a cooling-off period in-between etc.

The main Payday Loan requirements in Iowa are:

• US residence
• Minimum regular income of $1,000 per month
• Valid checking or savings account with direct deposit
• Phone number and e-mail address 

In Iowa, you can legally apply for up to $500 Payday loans online. It should be repaid within 31 day(s). Earlier payments don’t contemplate any additional penalty fees. The maximum APR is 433.00% while on average direct lenders charge 337.00%. For other details read further to find out how many Payday Loans you can borrow, whether rollovers or extensions are allowed, etc.

Iowa Payday Loan Terms and Amounts 

Iowa residents who are eligible for a Payday Loan can get a not-limited amount of cash advance per contract. The repayment term is capped at up to 31 days.

However, there are no limits on the purpose of loan usage. Any urgent expenses, unforeseen bills, car repair, home repair, etc. may seem a sound reason to apply for a Payday Loan in Iowa.

If a Payday cash advance is not enough, there are always other options to receive the necessary funds in Iowa: unsecured Installment Loans, bad credit Personal Loans, Title Loans, Check Cashing, Pawn Shops, etc.

Iowa Payday Loans online laws 

Payday loans from both storefront and online lenders are legal in the state of Iowa. But the companies should operate according to the The Iowa Division of Banking, Iowa Division of Banking, 200 East Grand Avenue, Suite 300 Des Moines IA 50309, (515) 281-4014 regulations.

Though there're some limits on how payday loan direct lenders should run businesses, they are minimal: maximum $500 loan amount, up to 31 days repayment term, maximum 433.00% APR. The Pew Charitable Trusts has placed Iowa on the list of 27 “permissive” states. There are no serious interest rate caps. Back in 2016, it appeared that payday lenders in the state would be presented with more restrictions to curb predatory practices, but those changes never occurred.

Still the precise Payday loan amount in total, as well as fees and any surcharges, with the APR rate, indicated, must be revealed within the contract you're signing. 
The lender is obliged to supply you with a fee schedule listing all the fees it's getting to make. All the amounts must be indicated with APR rates (400 – 1,200% range) and exact fee amounts. Lending agencies must indicate a telephone number within the contract you'll use to file any complaints or clarify any questions.

Reputable online lenders operating in accordance with all relevant state and federal laws can be applied to and compared on our platform using a simple online application form.

You state the necessary amount, fill in your personal information and get suitable offers from legit direct lenders. It takes only a few minutes and doesn't affect your credit score. 

Iowa Payday Loans interest rates, fees, and other finance charges 

The main part of payday loan payment is mostly made up of the interest rate, or APR. The maximum APR that may be charged for short-term cash advances in Iowa is 433.00%. On average the interest rate is 337.00%.

Besides, the total cost of a Payday Loan includes some additional fees. Iowa lending rules allow charging $15 NSF  fee.

The law obligates Iowa Payday Loan lenders to provide you with a written disclosure of all the rates and fees in understandable language. You should read them carefully and if you agree acknowledge the notification by signing the contract.

Iowa Payday Loans direct lenders' regulations 

According to Iowa payday loan laws, all direct lenders are obliged to register their companies which will allow issuing payday loans contract. It concerns both Online Payday Loan direct lenders and lenders in a store near you.

It's reported that almost 50% of Iowa borrowers of payday loans borrow over 12 of them a year, leading to an average of $480 spent on borrowing fees alone per year. 

"Be Wary of Online payday Loans" Consumer Advisory.pdf

Now, payday lenders are operating online to make it faster, easier, and more convenient for borrowers to get the necessary funds. However, it is often illegal for online payday lenders to make loans to Iowa consumers. Payday lenders, or direct deposit lenders, must be licensed by the state in order to run a lending business in Iowa, and to be licensed, the lender is required to have a physical location in the state. Iowa has put these laws in place to prevent consumers
from getting scammed on the web, and you should apply for online payday lenders' loans with caution.

But Iowa Payday Loan lenders are prohibited to threaten you for late payments or loan default and conduct any criminal actions against you.

Nevertheless, you should be careful not to come across any scams. Some unfair lenders can operate without license or under a different license and offer too expensive ‘payday loans’ under illegal conditions. Always check that the lender you are going to apply to works under Iowa state law.

Compare top legit Payday Lenders in Iowa:

Iowa Payday Loans consumer information 

Besides amounts, rates and fees, consumers must be also well aware of other details of Payday Loans in Iowa. They include the availability and number of rollovers, extensions and repayment plan, a cooling-off period, any default penalties or additional fees, etc. Check out the table below to find the most essential information:

Look for more detailed information on the official Iowa state regulator website - The Iowa Division of Banking, Iowa Division of Banking, 200 East Grand Avenue, Suite 300 Des Moines IA 50309, (515) 281-4014.

Legitimate Payday Loans Online with NO credit check in Iowa 

Looking for a legal Payday Loan with No credit check in Iowa? You must understand the meaning of this phrase correctly at first. No credit check implies that a lender will not inquire about your credit history information from or send your borrowing data to any of the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

If you don’t want to damage your credit history, Iowa law allows you to apply for a Payday Loan with No credit check. But you should understand that a lender needs to check your creditworthiness at least in some way. He can perform a soft credit check when a lender pre-approves you for a loan and this inquiry will not appear on your credit report. Or there’re other ways to prove you can afford the cash advance. Payday Loan lenders use the tracking system to verify your debts, check your income, etc. And generally, they charge higher interest to lessen the risks.

Iowa Payday loans online no credit check are one of the easiest options of getting quick cash to cope with emergency financial requirements, especially for people with poor credit.

Does Iowa law allow Payday Loans for bad credit borrowers?

The average credit score in Iowa is 695, placing it in the good range. But it doesn't mean that those who have worse credit can't apply for a Payday Loan in Iowa. 

• First of all, there're a lot of legit direct lenders in Iowa providing Payday cash advances 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 a bad credit Installment Loan, or bad credit Personal Loan.

Legit Payday Loans in Iowa collection practices 

If you can’t repay the loan amount plus interest on a due date it means you default the loan. When Iowa direct lender isn’t able to cash your check after the repayment term is over he may charge you an NSF fee. NSF fee means there are non-sufficient funds in your account. The amount charged is determined by the lender and stated in the agreement and may also be limited by the state’s Payday Loan law. In Iowa, it’s $15.

What concerns collection practices, first of all, you may stay assured that any criminal actions are forbidden in Iowa. The laws limit the collection actions lenders can take – When a borrower has failed to repay an Iowa payday loan, the laws dictate that lenders are not allowed to take any legal action against that borrower unless the individual has closed his or her checking account prior to repaying the debt in full. This essentially means that borrowers who maintain their checking accounts and who are unable to repay payday loans will be protected from payday loan lenders’ attempts to sue them or garnish their wages.

Under Iowa state law, lenders have 10 years to sue for any unpaid debt that stems from a written contract. For debts based on oral agreements, the statute of limitations is 5 years. In general, the term on an unpaid debt starts running when you miss a payment.

If you think that your payday lender violates the Iowa Payday Loans law, you may file a written complaint with The Iowa Division of Banking, Iowa Division of Banking, 200 East Grand Avenue, Suite 300 Des Moines IA 50309, (515) 281-4014. The supervisor from that office interviews witnesses, reviews the payday lender’s business records and documentation, and determines whether to pursue civil or criminal charges.

Iowa Payday Loans' latest changes 

In February 2019 Iowa Senator Joe Bolkcom criticized the state’s payday loan laws. He described the changes that he thinks should be made within the Iowa Payday Loans legislature to protect the residents from predatory lending.

Bolkcom suggested an interest-rate cap of 36% APR. Bolkcom also offered to provide the borrowers with “new payment options”. He also pointed out that banks and credit unions should offer more Payday Loans alternatives to low-income borrowers in the state.

Bolkcom urged readers to talk to their local state senators and representatives to express fears that working Americans are being exploited by lenders, and believes that vocal citizens are the only path to change as “no one cares about [the] issue” within the Iowa statehouse.

Last month, state Senator Nate Boulton wrote an article for the Des Moines Register highlighting the predatory practices of payday lenders in Iowa. Boulton called out payday lenders’ interest rates within the state, highlighting the 300 to 400 percent rates that payday lenders attach to the short-term loans. Boulton also called for an interest rate cap, and called out borrowers as targets by “schemes” that “end up being exploited”.

Iowa Payday Loans historical Background 

Iowa Payday Loan alternatives

If you're looking for an instant cash advance in Iowa but not a Payday Loan, consider other alternative ways to get the necessary funds:

• Apply for an Iowa Installment Loan - $1000 - $5000 cash advance repaid over several months or years in equal installments.
• Take out an Iowa Car Title Loan if you own a vehicle to use as collateral.
• Sell some of your valuable stuff online or at a pawn-shop.
• Consider borrowing online personal loans in Iowa, or loans from a bank or credit union, Greater Iowa Credit Union, Veridian Credit Union, for example.
• Qualify for one of Federal or Iowa government assistance programs: Food Assistance, Child Care Assistance, Cash Assistance Family Investment Program or Refugee Cash Assistance, State Supplementary Assistance, Family Planning, Well-Child and Prenatal and many others depending on your needs.