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Compare your loan options in West Virginia

With strict limits on APR, you may need to look elsewhere when you need a short-term loan.

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 West Virginia 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.
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.
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West Virginia has effectively banned payday loans, but it does offer a few programs that could be useful in your time of need.

Can I get a payday loan in West Virginia?

No, payday loans are prohibited under West Virginia Code 46A-4-107 and 32A-3-1 et. seq. This set of laws caps the APR a lender can charge at 31% for loans of $2,000 or less — and it applies to every lender in the state. The APR cap doesn’t include the allowed origination fee, which means your APR may be higher than 31%. But because payday lenders often charge APRs in excess of 400%, it effectively bans them from offering loans to residents of West Virginia. However, this doesn’t actually ban small-dollar loans, so you may be able to find a personal loan option. If you do opt for a personal loan, check the terms of your loan agreement to ensure the lender is keeping within the legal APR limit.

What other options are there in West Virginia?

Although West Virginia has placed restrictions on payday loans, there are still many options for individuals and families in need.

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • WV WORKS
  • Emergency Assistance Program
  • Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
  • School clothing Allowance
  • Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
  • Long Term Care
  • Medicaid
  • WV Children’s Health Insurance Program (WV CHIP)
  • AccessWV
You can also browse our guide to payday loan alternatives for more information on some of the more common state programs and alternate ways you can pay for a small short-term expense.

What do other types of loans cost in West Virginia?

West Virginia separates loans based on if they are secured by real property — like your home or car. For unsecured loans between $2,000 to $10,000, the APR is capped at 27%. For loans greater than $10,000, West Virginia limits the APR to 18%. For secured loans, the APR is capped at 27% for loans of $10,000 or less and at 18% for loans of $10,000 or more.
While these regulations are in place to help borrowers, it does mean you’ll find some personal loan lenders don’t operate in West Virginia.

Bottom line

Although you can’t technically get a payday loan in West Virginia, there are other options available to you. These include some small-dollar loans, like loans from your bank and installment loans from a short-term lender. Read your loan agreement and confirm the lender is licensed in West Virginia before you agree to borrow.

Frequently asked questions

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    ThereseSeptember 20, 2018

    I would like to see if I could get $2000 or $2500, please?

      AvatarFinder
      JhezelynSeptember 20, 2018Finder

      Hello Therese,

      Thank you for your comment.

      We could not tell if you can get a loan of $2000 to $2500 as this would be under the decision of the lender you are applying on. Please note that each lender has its own eligibility criteria and requirements that you must meet before you apply. The amount they will approve you of will depend on many factors such as the credit score and your capacity to repay the loan. Please make sure that you’ve read the relevant T&Cs or PDS of this account to help consider whether the product is right for you.

      If necessary, please speak to the lender directly. Please enter your zip code above and compare lenders available in your state.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

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