Payday Loans and Cash Advance in East Bakersfield, Bakersfield
Legal, capped at $300 and a 15% fee in California. What a short month looks like in East Bakersfield, the rules that apply, free help close by, and how to request a cash advance online from anywhere in Bakersfield.
East Bakersfield was its own town once. After a land dispute with Bakersfield in the 1870s, the Southern Pacific ran its tracks east of the city and founded a town of its own, Sumner. It became Kern City in 1892 and voted to join Bakersfield in 1910. That is why the streets here sit at an angle to the rest of the grid: they follow the railroad. Old Town Kern, around Baker Street, was Sumner's business district, and it is still where the Basque restaurants are.
Mount Vernon Avenue forms the east edge, with Kern Medical, Kern County Public Health and East Bakersfield High close by. Rent, a PG&E bill and a brake job can land in the same week. When they do, a $500 hole opens fast, and a California payday loan covers $255 of it at most.
East Bakersfield at a Glance
East Bakersfield sits just east of downtown. Union Avenue marks its west side, Bernard Street the north, Mount Vernon Avenue the east and East California Avenue the south. Baker, Niles and Monterey streets carry the bus lines through the middle, and Old Town Kern's restaurants and businesses cluster on Baker Street.
- ZIP codes: 93305, 93306
- Main corridors: Baker Street, Niles Street, Monterey Street, Mount Vernon Avenue, East California Avenue
- Transit: Golden Empire Transit (GET) Route 44 crosses Old Town Kern on Baker and Flower streets, Route 45 runs Baker, Monterey and Niles streets, Routes 21 and 41 run along Mount Vernon Avenue, and Route 43 follows Bernard Street on the north edge.
- City page: Bakersfield cash advance rules, Census figures and ordinance
East Bakersfield on the Map
How a Request Works from East 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 East Bakersfield
From East Bakersfield the simplest free help is a phone call. 2-1-1 Kern County refers callers to rent, food and utility aid, and the CAPK energy program it points to can pay part of a PG&E bill directly. CAPK's main office, at 300 19th Street downtown, also takes energy applications in person.
- 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 have to go to a store for a payday loan in East Bakersfield?
No. Licensed lenders can take a request online from East Bakersfield or anywhere else in Bakersfield, and California's rules follow the loan: a check of $300 at most, a fee of no more than 15 percent, a term of 31 days or less. Look up the lender's license on the DFPI site first.
Can I get a second payday loan in East Bakersfield before the first is paid?
No. The DFPI says a licensed lender may not give you a new payday loan while one is outstanding, and California law bars paying one loan off with another. If you are short on the due date in East Bakersfield, ask the lender for a payment plan; the law bars any extra fee for it.
Is a payday loan cheaper on the west side of Bakersfield than in East Bakersfield?
No. State law sets the price, not the neighborhood. A licensed lender in East Bakersfield or on the west side of Bakersfield can charge at most 15 percent of a check capped at $300, which is $45 for $255 in cash. Over 14 days that is about 460 percent APR.
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