State Regulatory Agencies for Payday Loans
This is a list of state regulatory agencies governing payday lending in 51 states. Regulatory agencies maintain an up-to-date licensee databases to help you find state-licensed payday loan sites and avoid illegal lenders.
In the event of a dispute, you can file complaints against lenders with these agencies. If you do, please let us know so we can post a warning on our Full Contact Info page, too!
Alabama
State of Alabama Banking Department
Bureau of Loans (Loan Search)
Consumer Resources – File a Complaint
Alaska
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Division of Banking and Securities
Complaints
Arizona
Arizona Department of Financial Institutions
Deferred Presentment Companies (List of Licensees)
Complaint Form
Arkansas
Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies
Licensing Information
Complaints
The above links are for the state board of collection agencies. Arkansas allows online lenders to be licensed in any state. We did not find any licensing information for payday lenders.
California
California Department of Business Oversight
Financial Services Licensee Database
Consumer Services – File a Complaint
Update Feb. 5, 2014: The California Department of Financial Institutions and Department of Corporations were combined into the Department of Business Oversight.
Colorado
Colorado Attorney General’s Office – Uniform Consumer Credit Code, Collection Agency Board
Uniform Consumer Credit Code (click on “Licensed Supervised Lenders & Disciplinary History”)
Complaint Form Information
Connecticut
State of Connecticut – Department of Banking
Consumer Credit Division
Complaints
Delaware
State of Delaware – Office of the State Bank Commissioner
Information – Non-Depository Institutions (Search Licensees)
Consumer Complaints
District of Columbia
District of Columbia – Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
To verify a license, please contact DISB’s Banking Bureau by calling 1-202-727-8000.
File a Complaint or Report Fraud
Florida
Florida, Office of Financial Regulation
License Check
How to File a Complaint
Georgia
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
Search for Licensed Money Services Businesses
Filing a Complaint
Hawaii
Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions
Regulated Institutions
Consumer Complaint FAQ
Idaho
Idaho Department of Finance – Consumer Credit and Consumer Loan Section
Consumer Credit Licensees
File a Complaint: Idaho Department of Finance’s Complaint Services Page
Illinois
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation Consumer Credit Section
Search Licensees
Consumer Credit Complaint Form
Indiana
Indiana Department of Financial Institutions
Consumer Credit Database: Non-Depository Listing
DFI Complaint Information (PDF File)
Iowa
Iowa Division of Banking
License Search
Filing a Complaint
Kansas
Office of the State Bank Commissioner of Kansas
Consumer and Mortgage Company Search
Complaints
Kentucky
Kentucky Office of Financial Institutions
Search for an Entity
Financial Institutions Complaint
Louisiana
Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
Payday Lenders (Requires Java Plugin to View)
Complaints
Maine
Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions
Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection
Consumer Complaints
Maryland
Maryland Division of Financial Regulation
Licensee Search
Complaints and Inquiries
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
Look Up a License / File a Complaint (in-page links give Page Not Found Error 404)
Michigan
Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation
OFIR Search Criteria for Consumer Finance Licensees
Filing a Complaint
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Commerce – Finance Companies
Look Up a License
File a Complaint
Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance
Consumer Finance Division – Small Loans
Complaints and Complaint Form
Missouri
Missouri Division of Finance
Licensee Search
File a Complaint