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Compare your loan options in Washington, DC

KNnow tthe facts before you apply for a short-term loan.

A payday loan can seem like a lifeline when you have less-than-perfect credit and you're looking to borrow a small amount of money, but if you're a resident of the capital, you won't be able to borrow. Read our guide to learn about your alternative options.

1 - 0 of 0
Name Product Filter Values Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Rating: 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.
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.
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 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.
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Rating: 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.
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.
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 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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No. Payday loans aren’t legal in Washington, DC under the Amended District of Columbia Code Section 28-3301. The capital caps interest at 24%, which is far lower than the interest charged by payday lenders in other parts of the US. Although they aren’t specifically banned, payday lenders choose not to offer loans because of the cap on interest.

What other borrowing options do I have in Washington DC?

While high interest payday lending is illegal in DC you can think about getting credit in other ways. Three options include:

  • Installment loans. An installment loan is a short-term form of credit similar to a payday loan that’s paid back over a longer period of time. You’ll typically pay back an installment loan over a few months to a couple of years.
  • Credit card cash advance. Depending on your situation, you could look into withdrawing cash from your credit line at an ATM. Your limit depends on your balance and comes with a high interest rate, similar to payday loans.
  • Tribal loans. You could still have the option of getting a loan if you go through a tribal lender like Blue Trust Loans. Since these lenders are based on tribal land, they are considered a sovereign entity and are able to abide by their own laws.
  • A loan connection service. Submitting your info through a connection service allows that provider to try and pair you with a suitable lender in its network. They may have small providers that can lend to you while still abiding to state laws.

Loan options to compare

A selection of online installment loans

1 - 0 of 0
Name Product Filter Values Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Rating: 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.
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.
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 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.
Fig Loans Installment Loans
$50 to $100, varies by state
As soon as the same business day
3 months of direct deposits, $1400 per month income, positive bank account balance
Get an affordable installment loan that comes with no fees, flexible terms and predictable monthly repayments.
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A selection of lender-connection services

1 - 0 of 0
Name Product Filter Values Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 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.
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Rating: 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.
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.
CashUSA Installment Loans
Not rated yet
CashUSA Installment Loans
$500 to $10,000
As fast as same business day
Regular source of income, Bank account, US citizen or permanent resident, Age of majority in your state
Explore its online education center to get tips on budgeting, how to prioritize your bills and more.
CashAdvance.com Payday Loans
Not rated yet
CashAdvance.com Payday Loans
$100 to $999
Varies by lender
Employed, at least $1,000 in monthly take-home pay, valid checking account, US citizen, over 18, valid home and work phone number, valid email address, resident of eligible state.
Use its repayment calculator to see how the loan term and amount you borrow affects the overall cost.
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What if I can’t get a personal loan or credit card?

You have other options to consider if borrowing money from a creditor doesn’t work out for you. These include:

  • Apply for an assistance program. Capital Area Food Bank Hunger Lifeline, The Utility Discount Programs and the Low Income Home Energy Program all help people when they’re in need. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, consider applying for one of these or the many other local area programs.
  • Consider free debt management help. If you have multiple bills you need to take care of, a debt consolidation loan could help you bring them all together and lower the total cost of your payments. Find free debt management help online or in your area. You could also consider a paid debt settlement service.
  • Find a credit counselor. While it won’t help you in the short term, a credit counselor can help you get your finances in order to make paying for future expenses easier. There are plenty of options to choose from, so don’t hesitate to do your research and find a good one.
  • Get a side gig. You could consider making extra money with a side hustle. Some ideas include driving for a ridesharing service like Uber or a food delivery service. If you have a skill that’s in high demand, you could consider freelancing for things like graphic design or writing.

Explore your other alternatives here

Why are payday loans illegal in DC?

Due to the high cost of payday loans, lawmakers in DC have decided to prevent lenders from offering them to residents of Washington, DC. Many consumer advocate groups consider payday loans to be predatory with interest rates designed to keep people in debt.
Because of this, you won’t be able to get a payday loan in the capital.


Cash advance locations in Washington, D.C.

Cash advance locations near you in Washington, D.C

If you’d like to visit a physical store for a cash advance, here are some options:

  • ACE Cash Express. 6221 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011
  • ACE Cash Express. 5429 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
  • ACE Cash Express. 3663 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
  • ACE Cash Express. 1786 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
  • ACE Cash Express. 1515 U Street NW, Ste C-2, Washington, DC 20009
  • Paradigm Funding & Payment. 1325 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005
  • Check Cashing One. 3433 14th St NW B, Washington, DC 20010,
  • A One Cash Inc. 3112 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010
  • Check Cash Depot. 1756 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
  • ACE Cash Express. 601 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
  • ACE Cash Express. 1512 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC 20002
  • ACE Cash Express. 3903 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC 20019
  • ACE Cash Express. 1245 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020
  • ACE Cash Express. 3829 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020
  • ACE Cash Express. 2441 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020
  • ACE Cash Express. 2922 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032
  • Check Cash One. 2529 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a loan in a different state?
If you’re a resident of DC, you won’t be able to get a payday loan even if you’re visiting a different state.
I’ve noticed that some online lenders from other states offer payday loans in Washington, DC. Are they legal?
No, they’re not. Out-of-state lenders can’t provide payday loans in Washington, DC.
Who can I contact to file a complaint about cash advance providers in DC?
You should direct all complaints surrounding cash advances in the District of Columbia to the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.
Can I get an auto title loan in Washington, DC?
No, you can’t. Due to the high interest rates and the frequency of borrowers defaulting on their loans, title loans are illegal in Washington, DC.
Image source: Shutterstock

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    InfinityNovember 26, 2018

    Is Infinity loans of Washington DC a scam?

      Default Gravatar
      joelmarceloNovember 27, 2018

      Hi there,

      Thanks for leaving a question on finder.

      Unfortunately, we do not have any information about Infinity Loans on finder. You can instead look up their company name to look up reviews so you can weigh your options in getting a loan. If you live in Washington, the lenders above may be able to help you as long as you qualify for the eligibility requirements.

      Please send me a message if you need anything else. :)

      Cheers,
      Joel

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