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Payday Loan Times

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Payday Loans in Nebraska

Nebraska payday-loan rules, rates, your rights, and the latest news.

Payday Loan Laws in Nebraska (2026)

High-cost payday loans are effectively gone in Nebraska. In 2020, about 83% of voters passed Initiative 428, capping the APR on delayed-deposit (payday) loans at 36%. Rates had averaged around 405%, so the cap made the old payday model unviable. Loans up to $500 over 34 days are still permitted in theory, but only within the 36% ceiling.

StatusLegal in name, but capped at 36% APR — high-cost payday ended
APR cap36% (Initiative 428, 2020)
Voter approvalAbout 83% in 2020
Previous average APRAround 405% before the cap
Maximum loan$500
Loan termUp to 34 days
RolloversProhibited
RegulatorNebraska Department of Banking and Finance
LawInitiative 428 (2020); Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 45-901+)

What Nebraska's 36% cap means for you

  • Nebraska voters approved the 36% cap by about 83% in 2020 — one of the most lopsided consumer-finance ballot wins anywhere.
  • Before the cap, the average payday APR was roughly 405%; the 36% ceiling made that model unviable.
  • Payday loans up to $500 over 34 days are still allowed in theory, but only within 36% APR, so few if any high-cost lenders remain.
  • If a lender offers you a payday loan above 36% APR, it is breaking Nebraska law.

Problem with a lender? File a complaint

Payday (delayed deposit) lenders in Nebraska are regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance. To report a violation or an illegal lender, use the online complaint form.

Alternatives to a payday loan

With the 36% cap, look to a credit-union small loan or payday-alternative loan, an employer paycheck advance, or nonprofit credit counseling. See our guide to payday loans and alternatives.

Your debt rights in Nebraska

A lender can garnish wages in Nebraska only after it sues and wins a court judgment, and federal law then caps how much can be taken. Nebraska 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:

Disclaimer: general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws change — verify the current rules with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance before borrowing. Last reviewed 2026.

Sources

Frequently asked

Are payday loans legal in Nebraska?

They are legal in name, but a 2020 voter-approved 36% APR cap (Initiative 428) ended the high-cost payday model — rates had averaged about 405%.

What is Nebraska's payday loan interest cap?

36% APR, approved by voters in 2020.

Can I still get a payday loan in Nebraska?

Loans up to $500 over 34 days are allowed in theory, but only within the 36% cap — so few if any high-cost lenders still operate.

Who regulates payday lending in Nebraska?

The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.

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