South · Not permitted
Payday loans in Washington, D.C.
Payday lending is not permitted in Washington, D.C.. Any company offering two-week, high-fee loans here is operating outside state law — the state regulator is the right place to report it.
No license exists for this product in this state, so any lender offering it deserves a report.
The rules behind the numbers
Payday lending is illegal in the District of Columbia under district usury caps limiting interest rates to 24% APR.
Statute: D.C. Code § 28-3301 / D.C. Code § 26-301 et seq.
Regulator: District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking · disb.dc.gov
Questions people ask here
Is payday lending legal in Washington, D.C.?
No. Payday lending is illegal in the District of Columbia under district usury caps limiting interest rates to 24% APR. Any storefront or site offering two-week, high-fee loans to Washington, D.C. residents is operating outside the law.
What are my legal alternatives in Washington, D.C.?
Federal credit-union small-dollar loans (PALs), installment lenders priced under the state cap, employer advances, and local assistance programs. Each costs a fraction of payday pricing.
A lender offered me a payday loan online anyway. Is that legal?
No. The ban applies to offers made to Washington, D.C. residents no matter where the company is based. Save the website, the contract and the payment details.
Who do I report an illegal lender to?
Complaints about a licensed lender go to the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (disb.dc.gov) — keep the loan agreement and every fee disclosure you were given.
5 storefront lender locations listed statewide in the 2022-02-20 public directory snapshot — each city guide carries its local list.