Portage, WI · Midwest · Allowed
Payday loans in Portage
Portage is governed by Wisconsin's statewide lending law — cities don't set their own loan rules. Storefront payday lending is permitted in Wisconsin. 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 Portage
10,365 residents · Columbia County Median household income is $44,239 — below the Wisconsin median of $63,148.
2 storefront locations of 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance America Title Loans, Installment Loans, Check Cashing/Pay-day Loans | 2936 New Pinery Rd, 53901 | (608) 742-6088 | Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM · hours vary |
| Security Finance Installment Loans | 1416 E Wisconsin St, 53901 | (608) 742-1620 | Mon 9:00 AM - 5:30 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 Wisconsin page before visiting. Spot an error? Report it.
The online route in Portage
A parallel market lends entirely online — application, decision and funding on a website, no storefront. Lenders licensed in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin regulator.
The rules behind the numbers
Payday loans are high-cost credit agreements intended for short-term financial needs and should not be used as a long-term source of borrowing.
In practice: borrow $300 for a standard term and the finance charge is $60 — $360 repaid at the end, about 516% - 574% APR. Every compliant lender in Portage has to fit inside that schedule.
Statute: Wis. Stat. § 138.14
Regulator: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions · dfi.wi.gov
Questions people ask in Portage
Are payday loans legal in Portage, WI?
Yes. Storefront payday lending is permitted across Wisconsin, and Portage runs under the same state rules: maximum loan 1 loan at a time, fees capped at No fee cap (set by contract). A store charging above the cap is operating illegally.
How much would a $300 loan cost me in Portage?
The same as anywhere in Wisconsin: state law sets the schedule. On a typical $300 loan the finance charge is about $60 — $360 repaid at the end of the standard term.
Which lenders have stores in Portage?
2 storefronts are listed in Portage in our 2022-02-20 directory snapshot (2 different companies). The full list with addresses, phones and hours is in the table above.
Who regulates lenders in Portage?
Complaints about a lender go to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (dfi.wi.gov) — keep the loan agreement and every fee disclosure you were given.