Rates and terms
We don't set rates. Lenders do. But we can show you the ranges, Kentucky's legal limits and what each type of loan costs in real dollars, so you can judge an offer before you sign.
| Loan type | Amount | Term | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payday loan | $100–$600 | 14–60 days | Fee up to $15 per $100 of the check; about 460% APR for 14 days |
| Installment loan | $500–$5,000 | 3–24 months | Often 35%–200% APR or more, set by the lender |
| Personal loan | $1,000–$10,000 | 12–60 months | About 9.95%–35.99% APR for fair to excellent credit |
Ranges are typical of lenders in our network as of October 2026 and are not an offer of credit.
Kentucky payday loan limits
| Rule | What Kentucky law says |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | $600 in total cash from all your open payday loans at once. The Department of Financial Institutions adjusts this figure each July for inflation, and it can never go above $850. |
| Fee | Up to $15 for every $100 of the check (or electronic authorization) you give the lender. The fee covers at least 14 days. |
| Loan term | The lender can hold your check for no more than 60 days. |
| How many loans | No more than two open payday loans at one time, across all lenders. Lenders check a statewide database before they lend. |
| Rollovers | A lender may not charge a fee to renew, roll over or consolidate a payday loan. |
| Criminal charges | You cannot be prosecuted or convicted for a cold check (KRS 514.040) over a payday loan, and a lender may not threaten it. |
| Applying online | Kentucky residents can sign a payday loan agreement by phone or online with a licensed lender. |
Source: KRS 286.9-100, as amended by 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 98 (Senate Bill 219), which took effect July 15, 2026. Rules for installment and personal loans are different and set by each lender's license.
Kentucky payday loan cost calculator
- Highest service fee Kentucky allows
- Check (or debit) amount
- Database fee, if charged
- Total you repay
- Annualized cost (APR illustration)
Upper-limit illustration under KRS 286.9-100: the fee is capped at 15% of the check, rounded down to the cent. A lender may charge less. Your actual fee, any database fee and the APR are in the lender's disclosure, which you see before you sign.
Representative example
A $1,000 installment loan repaid over 9 months at 120% APR would have nine monthly payments of about $174, for a total of about $1,563. A $1,000 personal loan over 24 months at 29.99% APR would have 24 payments of about $56, for a total of about $1,340.
Fees to look for in your agreement
- Late fee: charged if a payment is late; the amount is in your agreement.
- Returned payment fee: charged if your bank rejects a payment.
- Origination fee: some personal loan lenders deduct it from the loan.
- Prepayment: most lenders charge none; check before you sign.
If you can't make a payment
Call your lender before the due date and ask about an extended payment plan or a new date. Missing payments leads to fees and collection calls, and may be reported to credit bureaus. You cannot be prosecuted for a returned check on a Kentucky payday loan. If a lender treats you unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.
Ready to send a request?
One short online request. Sending it is free, and you are never obliged to accept an offer.