Guides & Resources
Straight answers before you apply — no sales pitch, just what actually happens.
Key takeaway
Key takeaway: these guides explain how personal loans, debt relief, credit repair, and mortgages actually work — what they cost, who qualifies, and what happens when you apply. US Lending is a matching service, not a lender, so the guidance is about helping you decide, not selling you a loan.
Personal Loans & Fast Cash
Personal Loans: The Complete Guide
How matching works, what loans cost, credit requirements, and how to get matched — the full pillar guide.
Small Personal Loans ($100–$1,000)
Small-dollar options for bad credit and no credit history, what they cost, and how to get matched fast.
Personal Loan vs. Payday Loan
Repayment, real cost, and risk compared — which one actually fits a small, short-term expense.
Personal Loans for Self-Employed & Gig Workers
No pay stubs? How lenders verify freelance and gig income, and how to get matched.
Need Money Now With Bad Credit?
What actually works when cash is due and your credit isn't great, cheapest options first.
Getting a Personal Loan Privately
How to apply on your own, what stays confidential, and what "private" really means.
Keep Getting Denied for a Loan?
Why applications get declined, and the concrete steps to get approved next time.
Does Applying for a Loan Hurt Your Credit?
Soft pull vs. hard pull, what an inquiry really costs, and how to check your rate safely.
How to Tell if a Loan Company Is Legit
The red flags that give scammers away, and what real lenders never do.
Loan to Pay Off Credit Card Debt: Worth It?
The math on swapping 20%+ card APR for a fixed-rate loan, and when it backfires.
"No Credit Check" Loans Explained
Soft pulls vs. hard pulls, and why "guaranteed approval" isn't a real thing.
Short on Cash Before Your Bill? Real Options
Paycheck advances, credit union PALs, assistance programs, and loan matching.
No Credit History vs. Bad Credit
Having no credit file is a different problem than having bad credit — here's why.
How to Compare Loan Offers
APR vs. interest rate, term length, fees, and prepayment — what actually decides the cheaper loan.
What Happens After You Submit a Loan Request
From clicking submit to seeing an offer — what happens, who sees it, and how long it takes.
How Much Personal Loan Can You Qualify For?
What actually sets your qualifying range beyond credit score.
Loan Calculator
Enter an amount, APR, and term to see your monthly payment, total interest, and full cost before you borrow.
How We Make Money
Why the service is free, how referral fees work, and how we keep them from biasing your matches.
Payday Loan Laws by State
Payday Loan Laws by State (2026 Guide)
How rules, rate caps, and availability differ depending on where you live.
Payday Lending in America: 2026 Data
The state-by-state breakdown: 27 allow it, 9 cap near 36%, 15 plus DC prohibit it.
Texas
No state rate cap, but licensing and disclosure rules still apply.
Florida
A $500 cap and a database that limits you to one loan at a time.
Ohio
A 2018 reform replaced traditional payday loans with capped-rate installment loans.
Missouri
No rate cap, but renewals are limited and require real principal paydown.
Louisiana
A $350 cap with a fixed fee formula and a one-loan-at-a-time database rule.
Nevada
No fee cap, but licensing and repayment-plan protections apply.
Utah
No rate cap, but interest can't accrue past 10 weeks.
California
$300 cap and 15% fee on small loans; 36%+ fed funds rate on larger installment loans.
Illinois
A 36% all-in APR cap ended triple-digit-rate payday lending statewide.
New York
Payday loans are illegal — criminal usury law caps interest at 25% APR.
Georgia
Banned under the Industrial Loan Act, with a roughly 60% APR cap on small loans.
Pennsylvania
Usury law caps licensed lenders at 24% APR, ruling out traditional payday loans.
Arizona
Payday lending authorization expired in 2010; a 36% usury cap applies now.
Washington
$700 loan cap, fee-based pricing, and an 8-loan annual limit.
North Carolina
The first state to ban payday lending, back in 2001 — still banned today.
Michigan
$600 cap with a sliding fee scale and a statewide database that blocks loan-stacking.
Virginia
Single-payment payday loans were replaced with 36%-capped installment loans.
New Jersey
Low usury cap prohibits payday-style lending statewide.
Massachusetts
Low usury cap blocks traditional payday loans entirely.
Colorado
Voters capped all-in costs at 36% APR in 2018.
Tennessee
Flex loan and payday licensing rules with per-tier fee caps.
Indiana
$605 cap with tiered fees and a 3-loan limit at once.
Wisconsin
No statutory rate cap, but licensing and disclosure rules apply.
Maryland
33% usury cap makes traditional payday loans unavailable.
Minnesota
36% APR cap effective 2024 replaced the old fee schedule.
Connecticut
Wage-assignment ban restricts how payday loans can be secured.
Oklahoma
Small Lenders Act caps rates at 17% per month, $1,500 aggregate.
Vermont
Low usury cap prohibits traditional payday lending statewide.
West Virginia
No deferred-presentment loans are permitted under state law.
New Mexico
36% APR cap enacted in 2023 replaced the old fee model.
Kentucky
$500 cap, 15% fee, and a statewide database limiting loan-stacking.
Oregon
36% interest cap plus an origination fee pushes real APR near 154%.
Kansas
$500 cap with tiered fees and a 3-loan limit per lender.
Iowa
$500 cap, tiered fees, and a limit of two outstanding loans.
Alabama
$500 cap, 17.5% fee, and a statewide database limiting stacking.
South Carolina
Deferred Presentment Services Act repealed, effective January 2026.
Rhode Island
$500 cap today, but a 36% APR cap takes effect January 2027.
Idaho
$1,000 cap but no rate ceiling — a 36% cap bill is under debate.
Delaware
$1,000 cap, a 5-loan limit, and a 60-day maximum term.
Alaska
$500 cap, 15% fee, and a mandatory 14-day cooling-off period.
Mississippi
$500 all-in cap covering both principal and fees combined.
Arkansas
17% constitutional usury cap effectively bars payday lending.
South Dakota
Voters capped all-in costs at 36% APR in a 2016 landslide.
Hawaii
Act 56 banned traditional payday loans in 2022, capped at 36%.
Maine
30% APR small-loan cap rules out triple-digit payday pricing.
Montana
Voter-approved 36% usury cap bars most traditional payday lenders.
Nebraska
Initiative 428 capped payday loans at 36% APR in 2020.
New Hampshire
36% APR cap in place since 2009, with a 60-day lockout rule.
North Dakota
20% fee cap and a $600 aggregate outstanding loan limit.
Wyoming
No maximum loan amount, but fees can push APR near 780%.
Washington DC
24% APR cap makes traditional payday loans effectively illegal.
Debt Relief
About Loan Matching
How Loan Matching Actually Works
What happens to your information, and why the model holds up as regulated.
Is US Lending Legit? What Happens When You Apply
Exactly how the matching process works and what we never ask for.
Loan Marketplace vs. Direct Lender
Neither is universally better — the real tradeoffs between the two.
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