Maine Payday Loans
We have reviewed 6 Maine payday loan lenders.
Payday loans can be a quick and easy ways to get cash. They do not require good credit or collateral. Cash can typically be deposited into your bank account overnight. The drawback is that these loans are very expensive. Banks, credit cards, friends, or family are most likely a cheaper option. The best choice, if possible, is to put off the expense until your next paycheck as borrowing short-term, quick money can be very expensive.
Payday loans are best used for emergency, short-term cash situations and when full repayment can be done with the next paycheck. We review payday loan lenders based on their reputation, cost, and features. Reputation considers state licensing and Better Business Bureau scores. Cost is based on terms, fees, and rates. Features include things like credit reporting or fee transparency.
Our review of payday loans considers three areas: reputation, cost, and features. Reputation considers state licensing and Better Business Bureau scores. Cost is based on terms, fees, and rates. Features include things like credit reporting or fee transparency.
A listing in this table is not an endorsement. This table includes all lenders we have reviewed who offer loans to Maine residents.
|
Cash Advance Now
$300 - $1,500
Loan amounts
725%
APRs
All
Credit type ⓘ Visit Cash Advance Now for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores:
[close]
Tribe Based Lender
Lender status
|
||||||||||
|
Big Valley Financial
$300 - $500
Loan amounts
780%
APRs
All
Credit type ⓘ Visit Big Valley Financial for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores:
[close]
Tribe Based Lender
Lender status
|
||||||||||
|
East Side Lenders
$300 - $1,000
Loan amounts
550% - 780%
APRs
All
Credit type ⓘ Visit East Side Lenders for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores:
[close]
Unlicensed Lender
Lender status
|
||||||||||
|
Tremont Lending
$100 - $750
Loan amounts
495%
APRs
All
Credit type ⓘ Visit Tremont Lending for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores:
[close]
Tribe Based Lender
Lender status
|
||||||||||
|
Cash in a Wink
$100, - $1,000
Loan amounts
456% - 2,281%
APRs
All
Credit type ⓘ Visit Cash in a Wink for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores:
[close]
Unlicensed Lender
Lender status
|
||||||||||
|
NationalPayday
$200 - $1,500
Loan amounts
782%
APRs
All
Credit type ⓘ Visit NationalPayday for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores:
[close]
Unlicensed Lender -- Costa Rica
Lender status
|
- Based on our analysis these lenders offer loans to Maine residents. Check each lender's website for up-to-date information.
Maine Payday Loans Details
For payday loans Maine residents can choose from Maine licensed, out-of-state licensed, tribal-based and foreign-based lenders for their.
Doshound strongly prefers licensed payday lenders as the Maine Office of Consumer Credit Regulation evaluates, regulates, and monitors the payday loans made by these lenders. See Maine Payday Loan Laws for more details on Maine laws and regulations or Payday Loans for more general information.
Unlicensed payday lenders include tribe-based lenders, lenders licensed in other states, and foreign-based lenders. Tribal and out-of-state licensed payday lenders operate under the interpretation that they can export their tribe or state laws into Maine and are required to adhere to federal lending laws but not Maine regulations. Federal laws may be less restrictive and less frequently enforced. The final group of lenders is foreign-based payday loan lenders. They export their countries' laws into Maine and are highly unregulated. See How to Choose A Payday Loan for more details.
The above is our understanding of how payday lending works in Maine, but we are not a law firm. Please contact the Maine Office of Consumer Credit Regulation for more information.
What Are Payday Loans
These loans are short-term, employment-based loans. They do not require collateral and are typically available to people with all types of credit. Funds can be deposited into your checking account overnight. Full payment is due your next pay period. Fees range from around $9 to $45 per $100 borrowed. For example, if $300 is borrowed, then $327 to $435 will be automatically deducted from your account on your next pay period. If the full deduction is made, the loan is paid in full and you are done. If you are unable to pay in full some lenders allow loan renewals usually at the same rate. You will pay fees on the unpaid fees from the previous period. Now, at your next payday (the second payday since you took the loan) $356 to $631 will be automatically deducted from your account. The fees add up fast. Please be careful with these loans. If you think you will be unable to pay the loan off in one or two pay periods it might make sense to consider Maine installment loans
Who Offers Maine Payday Loans
They are direct lenders who offer loans based on your paycheck amount, pay date, and access to your checking account. Their loans are typical available to all credit profiles and do not require collateral.
They differ from companies who provide matching services because payday lenders underwrite and lend money. Many sites will advertise loans and even take an application, but they are not lenders. Instead, they are matching services representing a network of lenders. These sites take your application and then pass them on to the lenders in their network. These networks can consist of hundreds of lenders. In some cases, if the lender may even pass your application on to another lender if they are unable to make a loan to you. One can distinguish direct lenders from matching services by looking at the fine print of most websites. Matching services will say something like, "the operator of this website is NOT A LENDER." Direct lenders will not include this disclaimer.
Maine Direct Lenders Versus Matching Service
The main advantage of using a matching service is that only one application is required to apply to multiple lenders. This can save time and effort as each application can take 5 to 15 minutes to complete. It can also increase your chances of getting approved as you will hit multiple lenders all at once.
The downside to using a matching services is you are unable to pick the lenders. This means the lenders may include unlicensed lenders as well as licensed lenders. We prefer state-licensed lenders. It also means you may not get the best loan possible as the matching service generally sells the loan to the highest bidder versus the lender with the best deal for you. If you use a matching service, once you are offered a loan, make sure you are comfortable with your lender and the terms. You are never under an obligation to accept the loan you are offered.
Whether you use a matching service or a direct lender there is a high likelihood that your data will end up with other lenders. An NPR article recounts a story where after applying via a matching service (with fake data) the author received calls months later from possible lenders.
We generally do not see anything wrong with a matching service in concept but one should be aware of how the services work. For more information see Direct Lenders or Matching Service.
Licensed Versus Unlicensed Lenders
We prefer Maine lenders licensed in your state because they are typically more closely regulated and monitored. State-licensed lenders generally must apply, register, and remain compliant in every state in which they operate. As a result, state-licensed lenders are typically larger more permanent companies.
Unlicensed payday loans operate in Maine by exporting laws from their state or tribe into Maine. Tribes are formally recognized American Indian Tribes and generally treated as separate federal entities that operate under their own laws. We have seen an increase in the number of tribal-based lenders. Doshound believes in transparent markets, fair regulations, and consumer choice. To the extent, the existence of tribal lenders increase consumer choice we like this. The creation of the self-regulating Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA) is also a good thing. We hope to see continued transparency and enforcement to create safer choices for borrowers. For more information see Maine Payday Loan Laws.
The above is our understanding of how payday lending works in Maine but we are not a law firm. Please contact the Maine Office of Consumer Credit Regulation for more information.