South Carolina Payday Loans Lender 2020

Updated: April 29, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Are you currently in the lookout for short-term financing in South Carolina? Unlike a number of other states in the US, payday loans in South Carolina are perfectly legal. However, state lending laws are still somewhat strict.

For example, you can only borrow up to $550 through a payday loan, and the longest-term permitted is 31 days. Moreover, payday loan companies in the state cannot charge more than 391% APR on the loan, with financing charges capped to 15% of the loan amount.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for more information on how to get a payday loan in the state, be sure to read this guide. Within it, we cover the ins and outs of what state lending laws you need to be made aware of, as well as how you can apply for a South Carolina payday loan today.

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In This Guide

Note: You can only take out one payday loan at a time in South Carolina. This is to prevent vulnerable consumers from taking out additional loans to cover the costs of outstanding debts.

What are the Laws Surrounding Payday Loans in South Carolina?

In the midst of the financial crisis in 2008, a number of US states decided to outlaw payday loans in their entirety. Although this wasn’t the case in South Carolina, state legislators still decided to step in to tighten the laws surrounding unethical lending practices. As such, lenders wishing to service customers must hold a financing license.

In terms of what the 2009 legislation states, this places a cap on the amount of money that you can borrow through a payday loan to $550. Anything more than this and you will need to consider an alternative funding source – such as a personal loan. Nevertheless, state lending laws in South Carolina also restrict payday loan terms of more than 31 days. This means that you will be required to repay the loan in full when you next receive your salary.

You can also only take out one payday loan at a time in South Carolina, and lenders are not able to offer you an extension or rollover. When it comes to APR rates, South Carolina’s laws have also placed restrictions on the amount of interest that payday loan lenders can charge. This stands at a maximum APR of 391% annually. Lenders are also capped in what they can charge in financing charges.

This includes the likes of origination and late payment fees. With the limit set at 15% of the total loan amount, this means that the maximum financing charge on a $550 loan is $75. All in all, borrowers are well looked after by state legislators when it comes to payday loans. The overarching concept is that while payday loans should remain legal, consumers should not enter into financially crippling arrangements that they cannot afford to repay.

Note: If you come across a payday loan lender in South Carolina that charges more than the state limits, this is likely to be a Tribal loan company. Such firms operate under their own codes of practice, as opposed to state lending laws. As such, they have the remit to charge as much interest as they like.

Pros and Cons of Payday Loans in South Carolina

Pros:

Payday loans capped to a maximum of $550
Terms cannot exceed 31 days
Lenders will consider credit profiles of all shapes and sizes
No rollovers or extensions allowed
Funds often transferred on a same-day basis
Some lenders allow you to view your APR rates on a soft credit check basis
Complete the entire application process online

Cons:

Not suitable if you need to borrow more than $550
Tribal loan companies operating in the state do not abide by state lending laws

Best Online Payday Loan Companies in South Carolina 2020

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Viva Loans

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Available Loan Amount

$100 - $5,000

Available Term Length

3 months

Representative APR

5.99% to 35.99%

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Loan Solo

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Available Loan Amount

$100 - $1,000

Available Term Length

6 - 9Months

Representative APR

200% - 2290%

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Extra lend

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Available Loan Amount

$100 - $ 3,000

Available Term Length

6 months - 2 years

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4.99% - 1386%

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CashUSA.com

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Available Loan Amount

$500 - $10,000

Available Term Length

6 months

Representative APR

5.99% to 35.99%

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My credit advance

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Available Loan Amount

$ 100 - $ 5,000

Available Term Length

Varies with the lender

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4.99% - 1386%

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How to Choose a Payday Loan Lender in South Carolina?

Although state lending laws govern how much you can borrow and at what interest rate, you still need to make some considerations regarding your chosen payday loan company. For example, if you need access to fast emergency funding, then you’ll need to use a payday loan company that offers a same-day transfer. Similarly, the maximum APR rate of 391% is still expensive, so you’ll want to find a lender that is cheaper than the limits permitted.

To help you along the way, we’ve listed some of the key metrics that you need to look out for prior to choosing a payday loan lender in South Carolina.

No Visit Required

You should stick with payday loan companies that operate 100% online. The reason for this is that you will be able to complete the entire end-to-end loan application from the comfort of your home. In doing so, not only will you avoid the need to visit a branch to hand in documents or sign the loan agreement, but you’ll be able to assess your lending terms in less than 10 minutes.

Representative APR Rates

It is notable that South Carolina lenders cannot charge more than 391% in interest. However, if your personal rate is close to this figure, you’re paying a lot of interest. As such, you need to stick with payday loan firms that offer more competitive interest rates.

Note: Even if the representative rate looks competitive, there is no guarantee that you will get this rate. On the contrary, the representative rate is merely the interest rate that the lender chooses to advertise on its platform. As such, you could pay much more.

On the other hand, you won’t know the exact APR rate until you go through the online application process. However, you should still review the lender’s platform to see what representative rate is published. If the rate is good, then you stand a much better chance of keeping your interest to a minimum.

Funding Times

You also need to assess the length of time that the lender requires to complete the loan process. Some payday loan lenders in South Carolina will forward your loan funds as soon as you are approved. This is ideal if you have an urgent need for financing, and need access to the cash on a same-day basis.

However, if the lender is known to ask for supporting documentation, this can delay the funding process by a couple of days. As such, go with a lender that has the capacity to process loan applications electronically.

Loan Size and Term

Although lenders in South Carolina have the legal remit to offer payday loans of up to $550, this won’t always be the case. Instead, some lenders will offer a much lower amount, so make sure the lender is able to meet your financing needs. Similarly, you also need to check the loan term. Once again, although lenders are able to offer a maximum term of 31 days, you might need to repay the money sooner. In fact, you’ll likely need to repay the loan when you next receive your salary.

How can I get a Payday Loan in South Carolina Today?

Are you based in South Carolina and looking for a payday loan today? If so, follow the quickfire guidelines outlined below.

Step 1: Choose a Payday Loan Lender

You will first need to choose a lender that offers payday loans in South Carolina that meets your personal needs. The easiest way to do this is to follow the information outlined in the section above on choosing a lender. This should include the lender’s APR rates, funding times, and eligibility requirements.

If you don’t have time to perform your own research, it might be worth considering some of the recommended lenders we have listed on this page. Each lender has been independently reviewed by our in-house team to ensure it meets our stringent criteria.

Step 2: Apply Online

Once you’ve found a suitable lender that operates in South Carolina, you will then need to submit an online application. Firstly, you’ll need to enter the amount that you wish to borrow, and for how long. Next, you’ll then be asked a range of questions about your identity and financial standing. This is to ensure that the lender knows who you are and that you have the financial means to repay the loan on time.

This will include:

First and Last Name
Home Address
Date of Birth
State ID Number
Contact Details
Income After-Tax
Name and Address of Employer
How Long You Have Lived at Current Address

Step 3: Review Loan Terms

Once you’ve gone through the application process and submitted the loan request, the South Carolina payday loans lender will then cross-reference your information electronically. It will likely extract data from the main three credit bureaus – meaning that the search could be posted to your credit file.

Note: Some payday loans in South Carolina allow you to check your interest rates via a soft credit check. This means that irrespective of whether or not you are approved, the search won’t impact your credit score.

You should receive a decision in less than a minute. If approved, you will be shown your personal lending rates and the date in which you need to repay the money. The loan terms might also include a financing fee, so be sure to look out for this. The maximum fee that can be charged is 15% of the loan amount.

Step 4: Bank Details and Digital Loan Agreement

The final stage of the payday loan application process will require you to enter your bank account details. This needs to be a valid US checking account, which is where the funds will be deposited into. The lender will need to take your repayment from the same account, meaning you’ll need to set up an electronic debit agreement. To complete the loan process, you will now need to sign the digital loan agreement, but before you do, make sure you read through it thoroughly.

Am I Eligible for a Payday Loan in South Carolina?

Tight lending regulations in the state of South Carolina does, of course, come with its pros. Not only are you protected from unethical lending practices, but the amount of interest that you can pay is capped at 391%. However, such a restrictive lending space also comes with a key flaw – eligibility requirements are slightly higher in South Carolina in comparison to pre-2009.

This is because loan providers can no longer offset the risks of lending money to bad credit profiles with higher interest payments. Instead, they are capped to 391%, meaning they might reject your application if your credit score is really hampered.

As such, below we have listed the typical criteria that payday loan lenders in South Carolina will ask for.

Regular Source of Income

Most payday loan companies operating in South Carolina will ask that you have a regular source of income. If the lender states a minimum income amount, you will need to meet this to be eligible. With that said, some lenders will consider income in the form of benefits or a pension, so you won’t necessarily be turned away if you’re unemployed.

Minimum FICO Credit Score

You might also need to meet a minimum FICO score to be eligible for a payday loan. If this is a requirement, the lender will need to run a full credit inquiry on you to extract your current score.

Depending on the type of lender you go with, you might need to possess a score of at least ‘Fair’ to get a loan. This amounts to a minimum FICO score of 630.

History With Repaying Debt

Payday loan companies operating in South Carolina will be most interested in your historical relationship with debt. By extracting your data from the main three credit bureaus, the lender will be able to see how responsible you are with credit. If you’ve previously missed payments or defaulted on a loan arrangement, this will show up and possibly hinder your chances of being approved.

South Carolina Resident and 18+

You will also need to be a resident of South Carolina to get a payday loan and be aged at least 18 years old.

Alternatives to a Payday Loan

Are you looking for financing in South Carolina, but need to borrow more than $550? Or, do you need longer than 31 days to repay the money? If so, you might need to consider an alternative funding source. At the forefront of this is a personal loan. Not only will you be able to borrow a much larger amount than payday loans permit, but you can also repay the money over a number of years.

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Fundsjoy – Personal Loans

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2 weeks to 12 months

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$3,500 - $40,000

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3-5 years

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5.99% – 28.99% (variable)

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Lightstream

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$5,000 - $100,000

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2 to 7 years

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3.5% to 16.8%

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Avant Credit

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$2,000 - $35,000

Available Term Length

2-5 years

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5.99% – 28.99% (variable)

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Brigit Loan App Loan

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$10 - $250

Available Term Length

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Conclusion

By reading our guide all of the way through, you should now be able to make an informed decision as to whether or not a South Carolina payday loan is right for your financing needs. Although such loans are perfectly legal in the state, a number of restrictions remain in place. Crucially, this limits the amount of interest that South Carolina lenders can charge you. At 391% APR, this will keep your lending costs under control. Limits are also in place on financing charges, which is capped at 15% of the total loan size.

However, strict lending laws also mean that you will be unable to borrow more than $550, nor can you borrow the funds for more than 31 days. You won’t be able to apply for a rollover or extension either. As such, if you need to borrow more than the $550 limit permits, you’ll need to consider an alternative funding source such as a personal loan. Ultimately, regardless of how you intend on arranging your loan requirements, just make sure you have the means to meet your repayments on time.

Apply for a Payday Loan Now! | Best Payday Lender 2020

Our Rating

Loans From $100 to $15,000
Instant Application & Approval
Bad Credit Considered
Lenders From All 50 US States Onboard

Apply Now

FAQs

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Kane Pepi

Kane holds academic qualifications in the finance and financial investigation fields. With a passion for all-things finance, he currently writes for a number of online publications.

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