PaydayLoan.Help
Menu

Louisiana · checked October 24, 2026

Payday loans in Louisiana: the rules and your way out

Payday loans allowed, with limits

Louisiana allows deferred presentment (payday) transactions and small loans at a fee of up to 16.75% of the check. Act 510 of 2025 raised the payday amount to $700 (now $740 after the CPI adjustment) and removed the old $45 fee cap.

Law: Louisiana Deferred Presentment and Small Loan Act, La. R.S. 9:3578.1 to 9:3578.8 (incl. 9:3578.4.1). La. R.S. 9:3578.x as amended by Acts 2025, No. 510 (eff. Aug. 1, 2025); OFI maximum-balance notice of Aug. 25, 2026 (for Sept. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027).

Louisiana's rules, line by line

Largest loan
Deferred presentment: $740 for September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027 (OFI CPI adjustment of the $700 statutory amount in R.S. 9:3578.3(3)). Small loan: $370 for the same period (base $350, R.S. 9:3578.3(7)).
Longest term
Deferred presentment: the check is held for no more than 30 days (R.S. 9:3578.3(3)(b)). Small loan: a term of 60 days or less (R.S. 9:3578.3(7)).
Fee or rate cap
A fee not to exceed 16.75% of the face amount of the check issued (R.S. 9:3578.4(A)(1)). Act 510 of 2025 (eff. Aug. 1, 2025) removed the former $45 maximum. If unpaid at maturity, 36% per year for up to one year, then no more than 18% per year (9:3578.4(A)(2)).
Renewals and rollovers
Prohibited, except that a licensee may accept a partial payment of 25% of the amount advanced plus fees and then enter a new transaction or renew for the remaining balance (R.S. 9:3578.6(A)(7)).
Payment plan if you cannot pay
Yes, free, once in any 12-month period per licensee. The consumer must ask before the due date, or within 72 hours after hospital discharge with proof of hospitalization. The plan has at least 4 substantially equal installments, with the first due no sooner than 30 days after signing unless the consumer agrees to a shorter period tied to income. No interest or extra fees, and prepayment at any time. No new loan until the plan is paid. Lenders must post the right and print it on the first page of the agreement (R.S. 9:3578.4.1).
State loan database
No statewide database was found in R.S. 9:3578.1 to 3578.8.
Limits on collection
The lender may be reimbursed the actual returned-check fee its bank charged, once per check (R.S. 9:3578.4(B)). No other fees except court-awarded attorney fees and costs and fees under R.S. 9:3529 and 3530(C) (9:3578.4(C)). Lenders may not threaten prosecution or refer a returned NSF check for prosecution (9:3578.6(A)(5)). No security interest in any property (9:3578.6(A)(8)). Since Aug. 1, 2025, a licensee may not report any negative information about customers to any credit bureau (9:3578.6(A)(9)). On default under an EPP, the lender may collect only the remaining plan balance (9:3578.4.1(E)).
Other rights
The licensee must accept partial payments of $50 or more (R.S. 9:3578.6(A)(3)). On prepayment in full during the first 5 days, unearned charges are refunded, less $20 of the original fee (9:3578.5). No splitting a loan into multiple agreements to raise fees (9:3578.6(A)(4)). Social Security checks may not be taken as payment or security (9:3578.6(B)).

If you are behind on a payday loan in Louisiana

  1. Ask for the payment plan before the due date. Louisiana law gives borrowers a way to repay in installments. The details are in the table above. Ask in writing and keep a copy.
  2. Stop the automatic withdrawals if they are emptying your account. You can revoke the lender's permission to debit your account and tell your bank. How to do it.
  3. Look at a credit union payday alternative loan. Federal credit unions can lend $200 to $2,000 at much lower cost. How they work.
  4. Talk to a nonprofit credit counselor. A counselor can look at all your bills, not just this one. How to find a real one.

Check a lender, or report one

Sources

This page summarizes the law; it is not legal advice. Laws change, and the statute and regulator control. If something here is out of date, write to hello@paydayloan.help.

You do not have to sort this out alone

A nonprofit credit counselor can look at the whole picture with you.

Ask for help