calcualting pdl interest

This is a great idea, goudah - thanks!

That's an awesome idea....Thanks so much

Tennessee State Information



Hello,

I'm trying to make sense of the payday loan laws in Tennesse. How would I go about calculating the allowable interest?

Thanks!

Response

Technically it is not an interest rate but service fee and this is how it works. The fee cannot exceed the lesser of 15% of the check amount or $30. So if you have a check amount for $100, the service fee would not exceed $15 (15% x 100). Keep in mind the fee is on the check amount, not cash amount. If the consumer requests $100 in cash, the check amount would be $117.65. The check amount of $117.65 x 15% equals $17.65, and cash is $100 ($117.65 - $17.65 = $100). If the customer asks ... "how much should I write the check for if I want $50?"
You can back into the check amount by taking $50 and dividing it by 85% or .85. In other words $50 divided by .85 = $58.82. You can verify by multiplying $58.82 x 15% = $8.82 service fee. $58.82 - $8.82 = $50.
Remember the service fee is limited to $30 on all checks exceeding $200.

Emails to and from PA Banking Dept

Hello,

I have a question about payday loans in Pennsylvania. Does the small loan rate cap of $9.50 per $100 per year discount or 24% per year apply to these loans? I took out a few on the internet and am trying to figure out how much I legally need to pay. For instance on a $200 loan would I be legally responsible for paying back only $248?

Thanks!


Reply

Dear Ms.:

The 9.5 discount and the 24 % simple interest refer to calculations that can be used by companies that are operating in Pennsylvania and are licensed under Pennsylvania????????s Consumer Discount Company Act. With a number of exceptions, a lender that is located inside of Pennsylvania and who does not have any special lending authority (i.e., a special license or charter) who is making smaller loans not secured by real estate can only charge interest at a rate of 6% simple.

A lender that does not have a physical presence in Pennsylvania but who has lending authority from some other state can generally charge the interest rate and finance charges allowed by that other state.

The Department may or may not be reviewing this policy and I would not count on this e-mail as an interpretive opinion before starting any lending or business operations.

James Keiser | Administrator Non-Depository Institutions

17 North Second Street, 13th Floor | Hbg PA 17101
Phone: 717.783.8242 | Fax: 717.787.8773
jkeiser(at)state.pa.us | www.banking.state.pa.us