Payday Loans and Cash Advance in Downtown Bakersfield, Bakersfield
Legal, capped at $300 and a 15% fee in California. What a short month looks like in Downtown Bakersfield, the rules that apply, free help close by, and how to request a cash advance online from anywhere in Bakersfield.
Downtown is where Bakersfield does its public business. City Hall, the Kern County administrative building and the courts make up the civic center, Mercy Hospital is on Truxtun Avenue, and Adventist Health is just north on Chester Avenue. At night people head for the Fox Theater at 20th and H streets, the Padre Hotel and Mechanics Bank Arena. The Beale Memorial Library, headquarters of the county library system, is here too, and the Amtrak station sits in the Mill Creek district.
Live or work downtown and a $500 gap tends to start with something ordinary. A car repair. Rent due before the check clears. A California payday loan tops out at $255 in cash, so at best it covers about half of that.
Downtown Bakersfield at a Glance
Downtown Bakersfield is the city's central business district. The Downtown Business Association draws it between 24th Street (Highway 178) on the north, Union Avenue on the east, California Avenue on the south and F Street on the west. Chester and Truxtun avenues are the main streets, and the GET Downtown Transit Center is here.
- ZIP codes: 93301
- Main corridors: Chester Avenue, Truxtun Avenue, H Street, 19th Street, 24th Street, California Avenue
- Transit: Golden Empire Transit (GET) Routes 22, 42, 43, 45, 81, 82 and 84 stop at the Downtown Transit Center, with Route 22 running along Chester Avenue, Route 43 along Truxtun Avenue and Route 21 along California Avenue.
- City page: Bakersfield cash advance rules, Census figures and ordinance
Downtown Bakersfield on the Map
How a Request Works from Downtown Bakersfield
There is no branch to visit. The form on this page goes to lenders licensed for California, takes about five minutes, and places no hard inquiry on your credit report. Any offer shows the amount, fee, APR and due date before you sign; funds usually arrive the next business day.
What It Costs Under California Law
| Rule | CA |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | $300 face value of the check, including the fee (Fin. Code 23035), so $255 in cash at the maximum fee |
| Maximum fee per $100 | 15% of the face amount of the check, $15 per $100 (Fin. Code 23036); returned check fee capped at $15 |
| Maximum term | 31 days (Fin. Code 23035) |
| $255 for 14 days | $45 fee, 460% APR |
The full law, the regulator's phone number and the statute citations are on the California page.
Free Help Near Downtown Bakersfield
Self-Help Federal Credit Union's Bakersfield branch is at 2100 H Street, and Valley Strong Credit Union's Downtown Branch is at 2424 Chester Avenue, near 25th Street. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, at 615 California Avenue, provides legal aid to eligible low-income residents, including eviction defense and appeals on CalFresh and CalWORKs.
- 2-1-1 Kern County: Free 24-hour referral line operated by Community Action Partnership of Kern for rent, utility, food and housing help; toll-free 800-273-2275. Call 211 or visit capk.org/211kerncounty.
- CAPK Energy Program (HEAP): LIHEAP utility bill assistance and free weatherization for Kern County households; intake through 2-1-1 or the main office at 300 19th Street, Bakersfield. Call 211 or visit capk.org/energy.
- Community Action Partnership of Kern: Kern County's Community Action Agency: food bank, WIC, Head Start, family resource centers, free VITA tax preparation and housing navigation. Call (661) 336-5236 or visit capk.org.
- California Department of Community Services and Development: Statewide energy bill assistance line that points you to the LIHEAP provider for your address. Call (866) 675-6623 or visit csd.ca.gov/energybills.
- National Foundation for Credit Counseling: Locator line for nonprofit credit counseling agencies that offer free budget reviews and debt management plans. Call 877-360-6322 or visit nfcc.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a checking account for a payday loan in Downtown Bakersfield?
In practice, yes. California's Deferred Deposit Transaction Law is built on a personal check that the lender holds for up to 31 days, so lenders serving Downtown Bakersfield ask for an open checking account. Valley Strong's Chester Avenue branch lists new accounts among its services if you need one.
Can a payday lender in Downtown Bakersfield charge me for more time?
No. Financial Code section 23036 lets a lender extend the due date or set up a payment plan, but it may not charge anything extra for either. Rolling the balance into a new loan is not allowed in Downtown Bakersfield or anywhere else in California.
Where do I report a payday lender in Downtown Bakersfield?
File a complaint with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, online or at 866-275-2677. The DFPI licenses every payday lender in California and enforces the $300 limit and 15 percent fee cap in Downtown Bakersfield as everywhere else. If the debt has led to an eviction notice, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance may help.
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