State reference · GA

Georgia lending rules

Georgia has 536 Census places covered on Paydayloaning, with a combined estimated population of 4,572,027. Payday and small-loan terms in Georgia are set by licensed lenders under state law; the sourced rules below apply to every borrower in the state.

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The verdict

Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia)

Source: Georgia Department of Banking and Finance · as of 2026-09-16

Maximum rate
See the latest published figure
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
Licensing
Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
Regulator
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF)
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance

Rules are quoted from the cited sources. How payday lending is regulated.

By the Paydayloaning Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

Key rules for borrowers in Georgia

Quoted from the statute, regulator or agency named in each row.

RuleDetailSource
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) See the latest published figure
value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted.
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia)
Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia."
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less
Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender".
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulator Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF)
Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters".
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
as of 2026-09-16
Installment Loan Act rate cap 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans)
Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract".
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
as of 2026-09-16

Cities in Georgia

All Georgia cities

We cover 536 Census places in Georgia.

Advertising disclosure: Paydayloaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.

Frequently asked questions

What interest rate can a lender charge in Georgia?
It depends on the product and the statute that governs it. The sourced table on this page lists Georgia's usury cap and the licensing rules, each with its publisher and a link to the primary source.
Are payday loans legal in Georgia?
Payday lending is regulated state by state; some states permit it, some cap it, and some prohibit it outright. See the sourced figure on this page for the current position.
Do I need a license to lend money in Georgia?
Most consumer lenders must be licensed by the state regulator named on this page. You can verify a lender's license with that regulator before you sign anything.

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