Payday loans in Tennessee

Email to and from TN Banking Dept

Hello,

I'm trying to make sense of the payday loan laws in Tennesse. How would I go about calculating the allowable interest?

Thanks!

Response

From: Steve Henley
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 1:08 PM
To:
Subject: Re: calculating pdl interest

Dear Ms , technically it is not an interest rate but service fee and this is how it works. The fee cannot exceed the lesser of 15% of the check amount or $30. So if you have a check amount for $100, the service fee would not exceed $15 (15% x 100). Keep in mind the fee is on the check amount, not cash amount. If the consumer requests $100 in cash, the check amount would be $117.65. The check amount of $117.65 x 15% equals $17.65, and cash is $100 ($117.65 - $17.65 = $100). If the customer asks ... "how much should I write the check for if I want $50?"

You can back into the check amount by taking $50 and dividing it by 85% or .85. In other words $50 divided by .85 = $58.82. You can verify by multiplying $58.82 x 15% = $8.82 service fee. $58.82 - $8.82 = $50.

Remember the service fee is limited to $30 on all checks exceeding $200.

I hope this helps but please let me know if you have other questions.

615-532-6993 Steve Henley

Reply:

Hello,

Can you tell me if internet based payday lenders with no physical location in TN need to be licensed by TN to lend legally? Or would they only need to be licensed by another state? And which state's laws would they need to follow?

Thanks!

Response:

From: Steve Henley
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2007 8:12 AM
To:
Subject: Re: Internet Payday loans

Dear Ms , our statute does not address internet activity, but to obtain a license from Tennessee the entity must first have a physical location in this state.

Please let me know if you have other questions.

615-532-6993 Steve Henley