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Compare your loan options in Montana

What you need to know before applying for a payday loan in the treasure state.

When you have unplanned expenses and are on a tight budget, a payday loan could be helpful. Payday loans, a type of short-term loan, give you quick access to money when you need it. Read on to find out about the laws in Montana and everything else you should know about how payday advances work.

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Name Product Filter Values Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
Smart Advances
Not rated yet
Smart Advances
$100 to $20,000
As soon as one business day after loan closing
Have a regular income, 18+ years old, be a U.S. citizen with a valid SSN, have an open bank account, meet any additional requirements your lender may have
Smart Advances was designed to help you request the loan you need, for any reason.
EarnIn
Not rated yet
EarnIn
Get up to $100 per day or $750 per pay period.
1 to 2 business days, or in minutes with Lightning Speed.
Direct deposit sent to a checking account, a regular pay schedule, a fixed work location or an online timekeeping system at work
No mandatory fees, no interest, and no credit checks. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions
Cleo
Not rated yet
Cleo
Up to $250
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee.
Not stated
Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.
Albert
Not rated yet
Albert
Up to $250
2–3 business days or instant for a fee
Checking account 2+ months old receiving direct deposit, 2+ months working for the same employer, positive account balance, most recent paycheck was on-time, funds still available in bank account 24 hours after most recent payday.
Get up to $250 overdraft protection if you sign up for Albert's banking app.
Brigit
Not rated yet
Brigit
Up to $250
1 to 3 business days or instant with a fee of $0.99 to $3.99, or a $9.99/mo. subscription with small fee, or free with $14.99/mo. subscription.
Bank account must have at least 60 days of activity, Balance must be above $0 and have an average minimum balance on pay day
Have up to $250 automatically deposited into your account — for a $9.99 membership fee.
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Score: 2.5 / 5: ★★★★★
LendYou Short-term Loans
Up to $1,000 for payday loans and up to $5,000 for installment loans
1 business day
$1,000+ monthly income, direct deposit, US citizen or permanent resident, ages 18+
Get offers from potential lenders in minutes by filling out just one online form.
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Score: 0.2 / 5: ★★★★★
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
$100 to $35,000
As soon as the next business day
Regular source of income, Verifiable bank account, US citizen, Ages 18+
Get connected with multiple lenders you might qualify with — even if you have bad credit.
Smart Advances
Not rated yet
Smart Advances
$100 to $20,000
As soon as one business day after loan closing
Have a regular income, 18+ years old, be a U.S. citizen with a valid SSN, have an open bank account, meet any additional requirements your lender may have
Smart Advances was designed to help you request the loan you need, for any reason.
EarnIn
Not rated yet
EarnIn
Get up to $100 per day or $750 per pay period.
1 to 2 business days, or in minutes with Lightning Speed.
Direct deposit sent to a checking account, a regular pay schedule, a fixed work location or an online timekeeping system at work
No mandatory fees, no interest, and no credit checks. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions
Cleo
Not rated yet
Cleo
Up to $250
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee.
Not stated
Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.
Albert
Not rated yet
Albert
Up to $250
2–3 business days or instant for a fee
Checking account 2+ months old receiving direct deposit, 2+ months working for the same employer, positive account balance, most recent paycheck was on-time, funds still available in bank account 24 hours after most recent payday.
Get up to $250 overdraft protection if you sign up for Albert's banking app.
Brigit
Not rated yet
Brigit
Up to $250
1 to 3 business days or instant with a fee of $0.99 to $3.99, or a $9.99/mo. subscription with small fee, or free with $14.99/mo. subscription.
Bank account must have at least 60 days of activity, Balance must be above $0 and have an average minimum balance on pay day
Have up to $250 automatically deposited into your account — for a $9.99 membership fee.
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Score: 2.5 / 5: ★★★★★
LendYou Short-term Loans
Up to $1,000 for payday loans and up to $5,000 for installment loans
1 business day
$1,000+ monthly income, direct deposit, US citizen or permanent resident, ages 18+
Get offers from potential lenders in minutes by filling out just one online form.
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Score: 0.2 / 5: ★★★★★
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
$100 to $35,000
As soon as the next business day
Regular source of income, Verifiable bank account, US citizen, Ages 18+
Get connected with multiple lenders you might qualify with — even if you have bad credit.
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If you find yourself low on cash and are looking to borrow a small amount of money, you may be considering a payday loan. Find out how payday loans work in Montana and what you’ll need to know when applying for one.

What does a payday loan in Montana cost?

Payday lending is legal in Montana. They are governed by Montana Code Annotated 31-1-701 et seq., which is the Montana Deferred Deposit Loan Act. Lenders must be licensed by the state before they can offer loans, and Montana law highly regulates lenders to help protect consumers.

  • Minimum loan amount: $50
  • Maximum loan amount: $300 or 25% of your gross monthly income
  • Loan Term: 31 days or less
  • APR: Montana law caps payday loan APR at 36%
  • Finance charge: A 14-day $100 loan costs $1.39
  • Collection fees: Lenders may charge one $30 non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee

You are not allowed to roll over or refinance your loan so be sure you’ll be able to repay what you borrow before you agree to a contract. Defaulting on loans is expensive and can lead to a cycle of debt that can be hard to get out of.

Be careful of online lenders

Montana has a 36% interest rate cap on payday loans, even for online lenders. If you’re shopping online and comparing offers, be sure to note how much the lender plans on charging you in the form of APR. In the past, some tribal lenders have been charging more than the legal interest to consumers. This can cause major debt, so you’ll want to avoid any loan that doesn’t abide by Montana law.

How can I apply for a payday loan?

All lenders require that you be 18 years old, an American citizen or permanent resident and have a regular source of income.
Whether you apply online or at a store location in Montana, you’ll have to provide some personal details. This includes your Social Security number, your home address, how much you make and your current employment situation. If you choose to apply online, you’ll also have to supply access to your personal checking account so the lender can deposit your loan amount and debit your payment when it’s due.

What should I consider before taking out a payday loan in Montana?

Because payday loans can be expensive, you’ll want to consider some other options before applying. Montana offers programs to help people with low incomes. If you’re having trouble paying your bills and your debt, you may want to look into Low-Energy Assistance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
You may want to consider other types of credit, too. Installment loans and credit card cash advances offer longer repayment periods, though they have high interest as well.
Find more payday loan alternatives

Bottom line

If you need a payday loan, Montana law has good regulations in place to protect consumers. It’s always a good idea to look at your budget and make sure you can afford to pay back your loan, but if you’re short on cash, a payday loan can be the solution you need.

Have more questions about Montana payday loans?

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