Payday Loans and Cash Advance in South Bakersfield, Bakersfield
Legal, capped at $300 and a 15% fee in California. What a short month looks like in South Bakersfield, the rules that apply, free help close by, and how to request a cash advance online from anywhere in Bakersfield.
South Bakersfield is the part of the city below Highway 58, between South Union Avenue and Wible Road. It is mostly homes, with commercial areas along the main roads. Valley Plaza and the GET Southwest Transit Center sit at Ming Avenue and Wible Road, the Kern County Fairgrounds is off South Union near Ming, and South High School is on Planz Road. White Lane and Panama Lane carry traffic across the area toward Highway 99.
The bills here are the ones most Bakersfield households know: rent on the first, a PG&E bill that climbs every summer, a car that has to run to get you to work. Stack two of those in one week and a $500 gap is easy. A California payday loan covers $255 of that at most.
South Bakersfield at a Glance
South Bakersfield lies south of Highway 58, between South Union Avenue on the east and Wible Road on the west, inside city limits. South Union Avenue, White Lane, Panama Lane, Wilson Road and South H Street are the main roads, and all five carry GET buses.
- ZIP codes: 93304, 93307
- Main corridors: South Union Avenue, White Lane, Panama Lane, Wilson Road, South H Street, Planz Road
- Transit: Golden Empire Transit (GET) Routes 41, 42, 62 and 83 cross South Bakersfield on South Union Avenue, White Lane, Panama Lane, Planz Road and South H Street, and all four connect at the Southwest Transit Center at Valley Plaza.
- City page: Bakersfield cash advance rules, Census figures and ordinance
South Bakersfield on the Map
How a Request Works from South 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 South Bakersfield
Strata Credit Union's Panama Branch is at 1535 Panama Lane, in the Vallarta shopping center; a member can ask there about borrowing before paying $45 on a payday check. For rent, food or a PG&E bill, call 2-1-1 first; it and the other Bakersfield lines on this page cover South Bakersfield the same way.
- 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
What is the most cash I can get from a payday loan in South Bakersfield?
$255. California caps the check at $300 and the fee at 15 percent, so the lender keeps $45 and deposits your $300 check on the due date, no more than 31 days later. Every licensed lender serving South Bakersfield works under those limits, as it would anywhere else in Bakersfield.
Is a payday loan the cheapest way to cover a PG&E bill in South Bakersfield?
Usually not. A $255 payday loan costs $45, about 460 percent APR over 14 days. Before borrowing, call 2-1-1 Kern County: the CAPK energy program can pay part of a utility bill directly for eligible households in South Bakersfield and the rest of Bakersfield, and that money does not have to be paid back.
Are there city rules on payday loans in South Bakersfield?
No. Bakersfield has no local payday lending ordinance, so in South Bakersfield, as in the rest of the city, the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law sets the terms: a $300 maximum check, a fee of at most 15 percent, a 31-day limit and no rollovers. The DFPI licenses lenders and takes complaints.
Other Bakersfield Neighborhoods
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