Johnston, IA · Midwest · Allowed
Payday loans in Johnston
Johnston is governed by Iowa's statewide lending law — cities don't set their own loan rules. Storefront payday lending is permitted in Iowa. State law caps what lenders can charge — the limits below are the legal ceiling, and honest lenders stay under it.
The limits below are the legal ceiling — any offer above them is being made outside the law.
Lending storefronts in Johnston
21,114 residents · Polk County Median household income is $97,457 — above the Iowa median of $55,032.
| Nearest storefronts | Town | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Advance America | Urbandale 5 mi | (515) 253-0900 |
| Advance America | Des Moines 8 mi | (515) 265-7100 |
| LPI Loans | Des Moines 8 mi | (515) 288-1440 |
Listing data: public business directory, collected 2022-02-20. Stores close and relocate — confirm with the regulator's license lookup on the Iowa page before visiting. Spot an error? Report it.
The online route in Johnston
A parallel market lends entirely online — application, decision and funding on a website, no storefront. Lenders licensed in Iowa follow the state schedule anywhere in the state, but bank-partner and tribal loans are structured outside state rate limits, and regulators dispute that model.
From the online lenders directory — terms each lender publishes about itself, checked September 2026. Directory only: we are not affiliated and make no availability promises — verify with the lender and the Iowa regulator.
The rules behind the numbers
Delayed deposit transactions are short-term loans designed to address emergency financial needs and should not be used as long-term options.
In practice: borrow $300 for a standard term and the finance charge is $35 — $335 repaid at the end, about 304% APR. Every compliant lender in Johnston has to fit inside that schedule.
Statute: Iowa Code Ch. 533D
Regulator: Iowa Division of Banking · www.idob.state.ia.us
Questions people ask in Johnston
Are payday loans legal in Johnston, IA?
Yes. Storefront payday lending is permitted across Iowa, and Johnston runs under the same state rules: maximum loan $500, fees capped at $15 on first $100, plus $10 per additional $100. A store charging above the cap is operating illegally.
How much would a $300 loan cost me in Johnston?
The same as anywhere in Iowa: state law sets the schedule. On a typical $300 loan the finance charge is about $35 — $335 repaid at the end of the standard term.
Which lenders have stores in Johnston?
Our 2022-02-20 directory snapshot lists no storefront lenders in Johnston — the closest listed locations are in Urbandale, Des Moines.
Who regulates lenders in Johnston?
Complaints about a lender go to the Iowa Division of Banking (www.idob.state.ia.us) — keep the loan agreement and every fee disclosure you were given.