Lake Charles, LA · South · Allowed
Payday loans in Lake Charles
Lake Charles is governed by Louisiana's statewide lending law — cities don't set their own loan rules. Storefront payday lending is permitted in Louisiana. State law caps what lenders can charge — the limits below are the legal ceiling, and honest lenders stay under it.
The limits below are the legal ceiling — any offer above them is being made outside the law.
Lending storefronts in Lake Charles
76,848 residents · Calcasieu Parish County Median household income is $36,751 — below the Louisiana median of $46,376.
7 storefront locations of 6 companies listed in the public directory snapshot below. Categories are the directory's own — verify a store's license with the state regulator before borrowing.
| Lender | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Franklin Financial Installment Loans | 1700 E Prien Lake Rd Ste 7, 70601 | (337) 480-6920 | Mon 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM · hours vary |
| ACE Cash Express Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans, Title Loans, Installment Loans | 1702 Hwy 14, 70601 | (337) 436-3323 | Mon 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM · hours vary |
| Advance America Title Loans, Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans | 2831 Gerstner Memorial Dr, 70601 | (337) 477-6085 | Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM · hours vary |
| Advance America Title Loans, Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans | 3453 Nelson Rd, 70605 | (337) 474-6412 | Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM · hours vary |
| Pelican State Credit Union Banks & Credit Unions, Installment Loans, Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans | 2231 Oak Park Blvd, 70601 | (337) 474-2040 | Mon–Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Sat–Sun Closed |
| Security Finance Installment Loans | 3239 Kirkman St Ste A, 70601 | (337) 477-6683 | Mon 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM · hours vary |
| Sunbelt Credit Installment Loans | 3239 Kirkman St Ste C, 70601 | (337) 478-8585 | Mon 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM · hours vary |
Listing data: public business directory, collected 2022-02-20. Stores close and relocate — confirm with the regulator's license lookup on the Louisiana page before visiting. Spot an error? Report it.
The online route in Lake Charles
A parallel market lends entirely online — application, decision and funding on a website, no storefront. Lenders licensed in Louisiana follow the state schedule anywhere in the state, but bank-partner and tribal loans are structured outside state rate limits, and regulators dispute that model.
From the online lenders directory — terms each lender publishes about itself, checked September 2026. Directory only: we are not affiliated and make no availability promises — verify with the lender and the Louisiana regulator.
The rules behind the numbers
Deferred presentment small loans are high-cost credit products intended for short-term financial needs only.
In practice: borrow $300 for a standard term and the finance charge is $60.25 — $360.25 repaid at the end, about 523% APR. Every compliant lender in Lake Charles has to fit inside that schedule.
Statute: La. R.S. 9:3578.1 et seq.
Regulator: Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions · www.ofi.la.gov
Questions people ask in Lake Charles
Are payday loans legal in Lake Charles, LA?
Yes. Storefront payday lending is permitted across Louisiana, and Lake Charles runs under the same state rules: maximum loan $350, fees capped at 16.75% of check amount ($16.75 per $100) + $10 documentation fee. A store charging above the cap is operating illegally.
How much would a $300 loan cost me in Lake Charles?
The same as anywhere in Louisiana: state law sets the schedule. On a typical $300 loan the finance charge is about $60.25 — $360.25 repaid at the end of the standard term.
Which lenders have stores in Lake Charles?
7 storefronts are listed in Lake Charles in our 2022-02-20 directory snapshot (6 different companies). The full list with addresses, phones and hours is in the table above.
Who regulates lenders in Lake Charles?
Complaints about a lender go to the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (www.ofi.la.gov) — keep the loan agreement and every fee disclosure you were given.