Louisiana
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Payday Loans in Louisiana
Payday Loan Laws in Louisiana (2026)
Yes — payday loans are legal in Louisiana, and the rules changed in 2025. Act 510 (effective August 2025) more than doubled the loan cap — the OFI set the maximum at about $720 for 2025–26 — and repealed the old $45 fee ceiling. The fee is now up to 16.75% of the check, the term runs up to 30 days, rollovers are barred, and every contract must include an extended payment plan.
| Status | Legal — licensed & regulated |
|---|---|
| Maximum loan | About $720 (OFI cap for 2025–26; raised from $350 by 2025 Act 510) |
| Maximum fee | Up to 16.75% of the check's face amount (old $45 fee cap repealed in 2025) |
| Typical APR | ≈437% on a 14-day loan |
| Loan term | Up to 30 days |
| Rollovers | Prohibited (a partial refinance is allowed only after paying 25% of the loan) |
| Repayment plan | Required in every contract; request in writing |
| Credit reporting | Lenders barred from reporting negative data to credit bureaus (2025) |
| Regulator | Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) |
| Law | Deferred Presentment & Small Loan Act (La. R.S. 9:3578.1+), amended by 2025 Act 510 |
What Louisiana borrowers should know
- A 2025 law (Act 510) raised the loan cap from $350 to an inflation-indexed amount — the OFI set it at about $720 for 2025–26 — and repealed the old $45 fee cap.
- The fee is now up to 16.75% of the check — about $16.75 per $100, roughly a 437% APR on a two-week loan.
- Rollovers are banned, but you can refinance the remaining balance after paying at least 25% of the original loan.
- Every contract must include an extended payment plan (request it in writing), and lenders may no longer report negative data about you to the credit bureaus.
Problem with a lender? File a complaint
Payday (deferred presentment) lenders in Louisiana are licensed by the Office of Financial Institutions. To report a violation or an illegal lender, use the online complaint form.
Alternatives to a payday loan
Before borrowing, compare a credit-union payday-alternative loan, an employer paycheck advance, or a payment plan with the biller. See our guide to payday loans and alternatives.
Your debt rights in Louisiana
A lender can garnish wages in Louisiana only after it sues and wins a court judgment, and federal law then caps how much can be taken. Louisiana does not run a statewide payday-loan database, so limits on how many loans you can hold are harder to track from lender to lender. Your rights when you cannot repay are set by a mix of federal and state law — these guides explain how they work:
- Can a payday lender sue you?
- Can payday loans garnish your wages?
- Do payday loans affect your credit?
- Payday loan statute of limitations
- How many payday loans can you have?
- How to get out of payday loan debt
Disclaimer: general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws change — verify the current rules with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) before borrowing. Last reviewed 2026.
Sources
Frequently asked
Are payday loans legal in Louisiana?
Yes. They are legal as “deferred presentment” transactions under La. R.S. 9:3578.1+, overseen by the Office of Financial Institutions.
How much can you borrow with a payday loan in Louisiana?
A 2025 law raised the cap; the OFI set the maximum at about $720 for the 2025–26 period, up from the prior $350.
What is the most a Louisiana payday lender can charge?
Up to 16.75% of the check's face amount — about $16.75 per $100, roughly a 437% APR on a two-week loan. The old $45 fee cap was repealed in 2025.
Can I get a repayment plan for a payday loan in Louisiana?
Yes. Every deferred-presentment contract must include an extended payment plan; request it in writing.
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