Columbus, OH · Midwest · 36% APR cap
Payday loans in Columbus
Columbus is governed by Ohio's statewide lending law — cities don't set their own loan rules. Ohio does not license classic two-week payday pricing: a 36% APR cap keeps typical payday fees out of the market. The storefronts that remain sell installment products under that cap.
Classic payday pricing is not licensed here, so treat any two-week, high-fee offer as a red flag.
Lending storefronts in Columbus
860,090 residents · Delaware County / Fairfield County / Franklin County Median household income is $45,659 — below the Ohio median of $55,714.
6 storefront locations of 6 companies listed in the public directory snapshot below. Categories are the directory's own — verify a store's license with the state regulator before borrowing.
| Lender | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE Cash Express Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans | 5206 E Main St, 43213 | (614) 866-4017 | Mon 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM · hours vary |
| Advance America Installment Loans | 3296 South High St, 43207 | (614) 492-8160 | Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM · hours vary |
| Always Payday Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans, Title Loans, Installment Loans | 2084 E Dublin Granville Rd, 43229 | (614) 882-0400 | Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM · hours vary |
| Bad Credit Loans Installment Loans | 1280 Norton Ave, 43212 | (614) 586-4094 | Open 24 hours daily |
| Check N' Go Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans | 1971 E Dublin-granville Rd, 43229 | (614) 841-4862 | Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM · hours vary |
| Huntington National Bank Banks & Credit Unions | 1555 W 5th Ave, 43212 | (614) 480-0020 | Mon 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM · hours vary |
Listing data: public business directory, collected 2022-02-20. Stores close and relocate — confirm with the regulator's license lookup on the Ohio page before visiting. Spot an error? Report it.
The online route in Columbus
Online lenders can serve Columbus without a storefront — but Ohio's 36% cap reaches any lender licensed in the state, wherever it is based. Loans routed through partner banks or tribal charters sit outside that cap, and regulators dispute the structure.
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 Ohio regulator.
The rules behind the numbers
Short-term loans in Ohio are capped at a maximum 36% APR including all interest and fees under the Fairness in Lending Act.
Statute: R.C. § 1321.35 et seq. (Short-Term Loan Act)
Regulator: Ohio Division of Financial Institutions · com.ohio.gov
Questions people ask in Columbus
Why doesn't Columbus have classic payday stores?
Ohio caps small-loan APR at 36%, and that state cap applies in Columbus exactly as everywhere else. At 36% a two-week $300 loan earns a lender about $4 — so classic payday pricing can't legally operate here.
What can I legally borrow in Columbus?
Installment loans priced under the 36% cap, federal credit-union PALs, and employer advances are the lawful routes. Any storefront or site advertising two-week, high-fee payday pricing to Columbus residents is not licensed here.
What lending storefronts are in Columbus?
6 storefronts are listed in Columbus in our 2022-02-20 directory snapshot (6 different companies). The full list with addresses, phones and hours is in the table above.
Who enforces the cap in Columbus?
Complaints about a lender go to the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions (com.ohio.gov) — keep the loan agreement and every fee disclosure you were given.