Way to Go Ohio!

One unfortunate growth industry in recent years has been the rise of alternative financial institutions. These are the payday lenders, auto title companies, and check cashers who offer access to cash to virtually anyone that walks through their doors but on horrific terms. I mean really bad.

Payday lenders often charge about $15 for every $100 borrowed on a two-week loan. This would be equivalent to an annual interest rate is approaches 400%. It is an outlandish deal that many people take because they feel like they dont have other options. The problem is that many people in America don’t have basic bank accounts, so they conduct their everyday financial transactions with these stores just move their money around. Our colleagues at the Center for Responsible Lending have been committed to ending these abusive practices and are working with people all across the country to change the state laws that govern these transactions. The need for the service is real but the terms are criminal. There ought to be a law…

But the great news out of Ohio is pretty soon it looks like there will be! Just this week, a bill cleared both houses of the state legislature which will put a 28% cap on payday loans. This cap is effectively a ban because it blows up the business model of these firms. Governor Strickland is expected to sign the bill and Cash America has already announced plans to close its 139 stores. Way to go Ohio!