Payday loans in Ohio
Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates; NCUA June 2026 call report; FDIC BankFind, Oct 2026.
Ohio payday loan rules at a glance
| Governing law | Short-Term Loan Act. No one may make, offer, broker or help an Ohio borrower get a short-term loan without a license from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Loans made in violation are void. (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1321.35-1321.48; § 1321.36) |
|---|---|
| Maximum loan | A short-term loan may not exceed $1,000. (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(A)) |
| Fees / interest cap | Interest is capped at 28% a year. The lender may also charge a monthly maintenance fee of up to 10% of the loan amount or $30, whichever is less (not allowed for active-duty military and their dependents), and a 2% origination charge on loans of $500 or more. Total fees and charges may not exceed 60% of the amount originally borrowed. (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1321.40, 1321.403) |
| Minimum term | At least 91 days, unless each monthly payment is no more than 6% of your verified gross monthly income or 7% of your verified net monthly income, whichever is greater. (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(B)) |
| Maximum term | No more than one year. (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(B)(1)) |
| Rollovers / renewals | A lender may refinance a short-term loan only if the new loan stays within the 28% interest cap and no monthly maintenance fee is charged on it. Loans must be repaid in substantially equal installments, not one balloon payment. (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1321.401, 1321.39(D)) |
| Loans at one time / database | A lender (or its affiliates or employees) may not make you a new short-term loan while you still owe it one, except a permitted refinance. Total outstanding short-term loan principal across all licensed lenders may not exceed $2,500 at any one time. (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.41(E), (R)) |
| Returned-payment fee | One returned-check charge per loan, of no more than $20 plus any amount passed on by other financial institutions. The lender may not collect treble damages for a bounced check. (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1321.40(D), 1321.41(D)) |
| Criminal charges for bounced check | A lender may not bring or threaten an action against you just because your check bounced for insufficient funds, unless you intentionally committed fraud, such as using a closed or false account. (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.41(F)) |
How much will I repay?
Ohio does not set a single per-$100 fee cap for this product; check the lender's disclosure. $15 per $100 is shown as an example.
Estimate only. Your lender shows your exact cost before you sign.
Credit services / credit access businesses
Ohio closed the old credit services organization payday model. A CSO may not help obtain any credit that is under $5,000, has a repayment term of one year or less, or carries an APR above 28%. (Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.071)
Compare neighboring states
Lenders must follow the law of the state where you live, not where you visit.
| State | Status | Max loan |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | Legal | $825 total outstanding with one lender (single or combined loans), and no single loan over 20% of your gross monthly… |
| Kentucky | Legal | You may have at most two payday loans open at once, and the total cash you receive from all open payday loans may not… |
| Michigan | Legal | A licensee may make one payday loan to you for any amount up to $600 (fees not included). |
| Pennsylvania | Not available | — |
| West Virginia | Not available | — |
Payday Loans by city in Ohio
Counties in Ohio
Show all 88 counties
Also see: Personal Loans in Ohio · Title Loans in Ohio · All Ohio loan options
Frequently asked questions
Are payday loans legal in Ohio?
Payday-style loans are legal in Ohio only as 'short-term loans' from lenders licensed under the Short-Term Loan Act (as rewritten by House Bill 123, effective 2019). These are installment loans of up to $1,000 with a 28% interest cap and a total-cost cap of 60% of the amount borrowed.
How much can you borrow with a payday loan in Ohio?
A short-term loan may not exceed $1,000.
How much do payday loans cost in Ohio?
Interest is capped at 28% a year. The lender may also charge a monthly maintenance fee of up to 10% of the loan amount or $30, whichever is less (not allowed for active-duty military and their dependents), and a 2% origination charge on loans of $500 or more. Total fees and charges may not exceed 60% of the amount originally borrowed.
How many payday loans can you have at once in Ohio?
A lender (or its affiliates or employees) may not make you a new short-term loan while you still owe it one, except a permitted refinance. Total outstanding short-term loan principal across all licensed lenders may not exceed $2,500 at any one time.
Can you roll over a payday loan in Ohio?
A lender may refinance a short-term loan only if the new loan stays within the 28% interest cap and no monthly maintenance fee is charged on it. Loans must be repaid in substantially equal installments, not one balloon payment.
Can a payday lender press criminal charges in Ohio?
A lender may not bring or threaten an action against you just because your check bounced for insufficient funds, unless you intentionally committed fraud, such as using a closed or false account.
What do I need to get a payday loan in Ohio?
Most lenders ask for a few basics: you must be a legal adult, with a valid government-issued ID, a steady source of income, an active checking account in your name, and a phone number and email. Some lenders also ask for recent pay stubs or bank statements. Having these ready makes our 3-minute form quick, and many Ohio applicants get a decision in minutes.
How much does a payday loan cost in Ohio?
Interest is capped at 28% a year. Your lender shows the exact fee, total amount to repay, due date and APR before you sign, so you know the full cost upfront. There's no charge to use our form, and you're never obligated to accept an offer. Compare what lenders offer Ohio borrowers in about 3 minutes.
Can I get a payday loan on the weekend in Ohio?
You can submit our online form any time, including nights and weekends, and some lenders review requests right away. Funding depends on banking days, though, so money requested on a Saturday or Sunday typically arrives the next business day. Submitting early helps you get in line for the first available deposit. Ohio residents can start a request now; it takes about 3 minutes.
Do payday loans in Ohio affect your credit score?
Usually only a little, if at all. Because many payday lenders don't use a traditional hard credit pull and often don't report to the major bureaus, a payday loan repaid on time typically has little effect on your score. A balance that goes unpaid and reaches collections could hurt it, so borrow an amount you can repay on your due date. Ohio residents can see their options with our 3-minute form.