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Missouri · checked October 24, 2026

Payday loans in Missouri: the rules and your way out

Payday loans allowed, with limits

Missouri allows licensed unsecured loans of $500 or less for 14 to 31 days. There is no APR cap, but total interest and fees over the life of the loan and all renewals may not exceed 75% of the original amount, and up to six renewals are allowed.

Law: RSMo 408.500, 408.505, 408.506 (with 408.100, 408.140). RSMo 408.500 as amended by 2026 H.B. 2423 (effective Aug. 28, 2026; it changed only licensing fees). RSMo 408.505 effective Aug. 28, 2002 (L. 2002 S.B. 884). RSMo 408.140 effective Aug. 28, 2024.

Missouri's rules, line by line

Largest loan
$500. A lender and its affiliates may not have more than $500 in these loans outstanding to the same borrower at once (RSMo 408.500.1; 408.505.5).
Shortest term
14 days, including renewals (RSMo 408.505.2).
Longest term
31 days, including renewals (RSMo 408.505.2).
Fee or rate cap
Simple interest and fees under 408.100 and 408.140, with no specific APR cap. However, no borrower may be required to pay total accumulated interest and fees above 75% of the initial loan amount on any single loan, for the entire term of that loan and all renewals (RSMo 408.505.3).
Renewals and rollovers
Up to 6 renewals at the borrower's written request. Interest and fees due must be paid, and the principal must be reduced by at least 5% of the original loan at each renewal (RSMo 408.500.6). A loan may not be repaid with the proceeds of another loan from the same lender or an affiliate (408.505.5).
Loans at once
No numeric limit, but no more than $500 in total outstanding with the same lender and its affiliates (RSMo 408.505.5).
Payment plan if you cannot pay
No statutory extended payment plan was found in RSMo 408.500-408.506.
State loan database
No statewide database. The lender may rely on the borrower's written certification that outstanding loans with that lender do not exceed $500 (RSMo 408.505.5).
Limits on collection
Any contract with a fee or charge that violates 408.500 (other than bona fide clerical errors) is void, and imposing one is a class A misdemeanor (408.500.2). No state or public official, including any judge, may enforce a contract that violates 408.500/408.505 (408.505.7). It is not the crime of passing a bad check if the payee accepted the check knowing it would be held until later, unless the borrower closed the account or stopped payment (408.505.8). Return check charges reference repealed sections 408.653/408.654 (408.505.6). The general consumer-credit rule (408.140.1(7)) allows a reasonable service fee of no more than $25 (per 570.120) plus the bank's actual return charge.
Other rights
Cancel without cost by returning the full principal by close of the lender's next full business day; the lender must give this notice in writing (RSMo 408.500.5(2)). Lenders must consider the borrower's ability to repay (408.500.7). TILA disclosures are required on every loan and renewal (408.500.1). Anti-evasion rules (408.505.9).

If you are behind on a payday loan in Missouri

  1. 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.
  2. Look at a credit union payday alternative loan. Federal credit unions can lend $200 to $2,000 at much lower cost. How they work.
  3. 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.

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