Payday & Title Loans in Ohio

Lending rules in Ohio

Rules marked "medium confidence" were checked against a published copy of the statute because the official site was unavailable to us. Confirm them with the official text before relying on them.

Payday loans (deferred presentment)

• A short-term loan under the Short-Term Loan Act can be for at most $1,000. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(A) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A short-term loan must run for at least 91 days, unless the monthly payment is small relative to the borrower's income. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(B) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A short-term loan can run for at most one year. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(B)(1) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• Interest on a short-term loan cannot exceed 28 percent a year. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40(A) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A lender may add a monthly maintenance fee of at most the lesser of 10 percent of the original loan amount or $30. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40(B)(1) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• The monthly maintenance fee on a short-term loan cannot be more than $30. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40(B)(1) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• On loans of $500 or more, a lender may charge an origination fee of 2 percent of the original loan amount. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40(C) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A lender may charge one check collection fee per loan of up to $20 plus any amount other banks pass on for a returned check. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40(D) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• If the loan proceeds are paid by check, the lender may charge at most $10 to cash it. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40(E) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A short-term lender cannot make a new short-term loan to a borrower who has an outstanding loan with that lender, a related company or an employee. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.41(E) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A short-term lender cannot charge a fee for paying the loan off early. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.41(J) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• The borrower can cancel a short-term loan by 5 p.m. on the third business day after the loan, by returning the amount borrowed. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39(E) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• Making or brokering a short-term loan to an Ohio borrower requires a license from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.36(A) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence

Title loans

• A short-term lender cannot take a vehicle title, registration or other collateral as security. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.41(H) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence

Installment and consumer finance loans

• The Small Loan Act covers loans of $5,000 or less and requires a license from the Division of Financial Institutions. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.02 · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A Small Loan Act licensee may charge up to 28 percent a year on the part of the unpaid balance up to $1,000. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.13(A) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• On the part of the unpaid balance above $1,000, a Small Loan Act licensee may charge up to 22 percent a year. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.13(A) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• A General Loan Law registrant may charge interest of up to 21 percent a year on the unpaid balance. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.57(A) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence
• Lending under the Consumer Installment Loan Act requires a license from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.63(A)(1) · verified Oct 8, 2026 · medium confidence

Lenders in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (ODFI). You can look up any license in its license search. See also online lenders and apps in Ohio.