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EspañolPayday Loans and Cash Advance in Kansas City, MO
Legal, $500 cap, up to six renewals in Missouri. What a shortfall looks like on Kansas City rent and pay, the local rules, who to call for help, and how to request a cash advance online.
Kansas City pays a lot of its workers by the hour and a lot of its bills by the season. The big employers are well known: Hallmark, H&R Block, Burns & McDonnell, Oracle Health, Children's Mercy, Saint Luke's, University Health and a large federal workforce. But much of the city works in warehouses along I-435 and near the airport, at the Ford assembly plant in Claycomo, in trucking and rail, in the bars and kitchens of Westport and the Power & Light District, and in home health and school jobs paid every two weeks. Rents have climbed in Midtown, Waldo and the Northland, while much of the East Side and the Historic Northeast rent older houses that cost a lot to heat. Summer means Evergy bills after weeks of humid 90-degree days. Winter means ice storms, a higher Spire bill, maybe a tow, and a missed shift, because the streetcar only runs the Main Street corridor and RideKC buses do not reach every job. State Line Road adds a twist: a lender in Kansas City, Kansas, or Overland Park works under Kansas law, which prices a payday loan differently. On the Missouri side, city permit rules sit on top of the state's $500 limit.
What a $500 Shortfall Looks Like in Kansas City
Kansas City's median household income of $69,166 is about $5,764 a month before taxes, so a $500 shortfall is roughly 8.7 percent of a typical month. Against the median gross rent of $1,238 it is about 40.4 percent of one rent payment. Missouri sets no per-loan fee cap, and at the 365 percent average APR the Division of Finance reported, a $500 payday loan for 14 days costs about $70, with each renewal adding more until the 75 percent lifetime ceiling of $375.
Missouri Rules That Apply in Kansas City
| Rule | MO |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | $500 in total from any one lender and its affiliates at one time (RSMo 408.505.5) |
| Maximum fee per $100 | No per-loan cap; total interest and fees over the life of a loan, including renewals, may not exceed 75% of the original amount (RSMo 408.505.3) |
| Maximum term | 31 days (RSMo 408.505.2) |
| Rollovers | Up to 6 renewals; each renewal must reduce the principal by at least 5% (RSMo 408.500) |
| $300 for 14 days | $42 fee, 365% APR |
The full law, the regulator's phone number and the statute citations are on the Missouri cash advance page.
Local Ordinance in Kansas City
Kansas City regulates where and how short-term lenders operate, not what they charge. Chapter 43 of the Code of Ordinances, adopted August 30, 2007 (Ordinance No. 070846), requires every payday, title, check-cashing and similar storefront to hold an annual city permit for each location. Voters first approved the $1,000 yearly permit fee in 2008 and renewed it as Question 2 on April 7, 2015, when the definition was broadened to reach lenders that had restructured and claimed the fee no longer applied to them. Within three feet of every counter, permit holders must post a notice in 24-point bold type listing rates and fees, the APR per $100 borrowed, the cost of rolling a loan over up to six times and your right to rescind. Zoning Section 88-325 keeps new stores at least a mile from any other short-term lender or pawn shop.
Free Help in Kansas City Before You Borrow
- United Way 211 (Greater Kansas City): Referral line open 24/7 for rent, utility, eviction prevention and food help across the Kansas City area; also reachable at 816-474-5112. Call 211 or visit unitedwaygkc.org/211.
- MAAC LIHEAP (Mid America Assistance Coalition): Missouri's contracted LIHEAP agency for Jackson, Clay and Platte counties; staff see people in person on Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Evergy Connect, 1710 Paseo Blvd.. Call 816-768-8900 or visit maacliheap.org.
- Missouri Division of Finance: State regulator that licenses and examines payday lenders under RSMo 408.500; complaints by phone or online form. Call 573-751-3242 or visit finance.mo.gov/consumer-complaints.
- Legal Aid of Western Missouri: Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents; central office at 4001 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 300, Kansas City. Call 816-474-6750 or visit lawmo.org.
Kansas City on the Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kansas City, Missouri have its own payday loan rules?
Yes, but they govern the storefront, not the price. Chapter 43 of the city code requires an annual permit for every location, with a $1,000 fee voters renewed in 2015, and a posted notice at each counter showing rates, the APR per $100 and the cost of six rollovers. Zoning keeps new stores a mile from other lenders and pawn shops. The amount, term and renewal limits come from Missouri law.
What is the maximum payday loan in Kansas City?
$500 in total from any one lender and its affiliates, under RSMo 408.505, for a term of 14 to 31 days. A loan can be renewed up to six times if you pay down at least 5 percent of the principal each time, and interest and fees over the life of the loan cannot exceed 75 percent of the amount borrowed. You can cancel free by returning the principal before the lender's next full business day ends.
Are payday loans different across State Line in Kansas City, Kansas?
Yes. Kansas caps the finance charge at 15 percent of the amount advanced, so $500 costs no more than $75, and a loan runs 7 to 30 days, with no more than two open at once from the same lender. Missouri has no per-loan fee cap, only the 75 percent lifetime limit. A store in Kansas City, Kansas, lends under Kansas law, while an online lender serving a Missouri address needs a Missouri license.
Where can I get help with an Evergy or Spire bill in Kansas City?
MAAC LIHEAP takes energy assistance applications for Jackson, Clay and Platte counties at 816-768-8900, and its staff see people in person on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Evergy Connect, 1710 Paseo Boulevard. For rent, food or eviction help, dial 211 or 816-474-5112 for United Way 211, which answers around the clock. A grant costs nothing to repay; a $500 payday loan can cost $70 or more.
Nearby Cities
Independence North Kansas City Lee's Summit Kansas City, Kansas Overland Park
