Find the Best Payday Lenders in Bakersfield, CA

Payday lending is illegal and unavailable to consumers in some states. Payday loans usually have very high interest rates and carry risk. As with any loan, consumers should have a clear understanding of the fees, terms and conditions of any payday loan before borrowing.

How to get a payday loan in Bakersfield

Because they are fast, easy and don’t require good credit scores, payday loans are a popular way to deal with a financial emergency. Residents of California borrowed close to $3 billion from payday lenders in 2017, according to the Department of Business Oversight.

Before getting a payday loan, however, you should first consider other options with lower borrowing costs and less risk. You may, for example, be able to work out an extension with a creditor, get an advance from an employer, take out a loan from a credit union or bank or borrow from a relative or friend.

If none of these are possibilities and you decide to borrow from a payday lender, it’s important you understand how the process works and the relevant laws in California.

To enter into a payday loan agreement, you will write the lender a personal check for the amount of money you wish to borrow. In California, the maximum amount you can borrow is $300. The lender then will give you cash, minus a fee. The maximum fee is 15 percent of the check, so for a $300 payday loan, you could be charged as much as $45, effectively leaving you with $255. At the end of the loan term — no more than 31 days later — the lender can deposit your check.

Depending on the company, you can apply for a payday loan in Bakersfield over the phone, online or in person. Be prepared to show the following:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of an open and active checking account, like a bank statement
• Most recent pay stub
• Valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
• Valid and active phone number

Before you get a payday loan in Bakersfield, the lender is required to disclose the full fee amount (in both dollars and as an annual percentage rate), payment obligations and the charge for returned checks ($15 maximum). Lenders can’t accept collateral or require consumers to buy any product in exchange for a payday loan.

California payday loan laws prohibit lenders from prosecuting or threatening to prosecute any borrower to collect on a loan. If you have any questions about whether a lender is licensed to issue you a payday loan, you can check the state database.