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EspañolPayday Loans and Cash Advance in Hattiesburg, MS
Legal under the Check Cashers Act in Mississippi. What a shortfall looks like on Hattiesburg rent and pay, the local rules, who to call for help, and how to request a cash advance online.
Hattiesburg is the Hub City, and its paychecks come from a short list of big employers and a long list of small ones. Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg Clinic and Merit Health Wesley employ thousands in health care, the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University fill the rental market with students and staff, and Camp Shelby south of town brings a steady flow of Guard soldiers and contractors. Much of the rest is hourly work: poultry plants around the Pine Belt, retail along Hardy Street and Highway 98, restaurants, warehouses and home health. Median household income here is far below the national figure, and close to two in three homes in the city are rented, many of them older houses near downtown, Palmers Crossing and the Mobile Street area. Storms are part of the budget. Hurricane Katrina and the 2013 and 2017 tornadoes left families paying deductibles, tree removal and motel bills that insurance did not cover, and a summer air conditioning bill in an older rental can run close to a car payment. Hub City Transit covers the main corridors but not every shift, so a car repair is often the real emergency. Mississippi's payday fees are among the most expensive in the country, so the choice of what to use matters.
What a $500 Shortfall Looks Like in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg's median household income of $46,342 comes to about $3,862 a month before taxes, so a $500 shortfall is roughly 12.9% of a typical month. Against the median gross rent of $1,005 it is about 49.8%, nearly half of one rent payment. In a city where close to two in three homes are rented, that is often the difference between paying rent on time and paying a late fee on top of it.
Mississippi Rules That Apply in Hattiesburg
| Rule | MS |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | Check face amount of $500 including the fee; about $410 in cash on a $500 check (Miss. Code 75-67-519; DBCF pamphlet) |
| Maximum fee per $100 | $20 per $100 advanced when the check is $250 or less; $21.95 per $100 advanced when the check is over $250 up to $500 (Miss. Code 75-67-519) |
| Maximum term | 30 days; checks over $250 must run 28 to 30 days by written agreement (Miss. Code 75-67-519) |
| Rollovers | Prohibited; a licensee may not renew or extend a delayed deposit check (Miss. Code 75-67-519) |
| $300 for 30 days | $65.85 fee, 267% APR |
The full law, the regulator's phone number and the statute citations are on the Mississippi cash advance page.
Local Ordinance in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg has no ordinance on payday or title loan terms; its Land Development Code only classifies alternative financial services (check cashing, payday and title lending) as a separate zoning use, so the Mississippi Check Cashers Act and the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance set the rules citywide.
Free Help in Hattiesburg Before You Borrow
- 2-1-1 (United Way of Southeast Mississippi): Hattiesburg-based United Way's referral line connecting callers to local rent, utility and food help; toll-free 866-472-8265. Call 211 or visit unitedwaysems.org/211.
- Pearl River Valley Opportunity, Forrest County office: Community action agency office at 100 West Front Street; utility bill assistance (LIHEAP), case management and food assistance. Call 601-545-8110 or visit prvoinc.org/contact.
- Mississippi Center for Legal Services, Hattiesburg office: Free civil legal help for low-income residents at 111 East Front Street; toll-free 800-773-1737. Call 601-545-2950 or visit mscenterforlegalservices.org/locations.
- Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance: State regulator that licenses check cashers (payday lenders); licensee list, questions and complaints about a delayed deposit loan. Call 601-321-6901 or visit dbcf.ms.gov/consumer-finance.
Hattiesburg on the Map
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I borrow on a payday loan in Hattiesburg?
Mississippi caps the face amount of your check at $500, and that includes the fee. On a $500 check the fee is $90, so the most cash you can walk out with is about $410. You can hold more than one delayed deposit check, but their combined face value still cannot pass $500, and the loan cannot be renewed or rolled over for another fee.
What does a $300 payday loan cost in Hattiesburg?
A $300 advance means a check over $250, so the higher fee tier applies: $21.95 per $100, or $65.85. State law requires checks over $250 to run 28 to 30 days, so you repay $365.85 about a month later, roughly a 267% APR. Smaller advances cost $20 per $100 and can run shorter, which pushes the APR higher. The only other allowed charge is one $30 returned check fee.
Does Hattiesburg have its own payday loan ordinance?
No. Hattiesburg's Land Development Code treats alternative financial services, meaning check cashing, payday and title lending, as a separate zoning use, but the city sets no limits on loan size, fees or renewals. Those come from the Mississippi Check Cashers Act, and the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance licenses every lender. Check a storefront or website against its licensee list, or call 601-321-6901, before you sign.
Where can I get help with an electric bill in Hattiesburg?
Pearl River Valley Opportunity has a Forrest County office at 100 West Front Street, 601-545-8110, and helps with the federal energy assistance program (LIHEAP), which starts with a pre-application on the Access MS portal. Dial 211 for United Way of Southeast Mississippi's referral line for rent, food and utility help. If a lender sues you, Mississippi Center for Legal Services in Hattiesburg is at 601-545-2950.
