and consumers. Previous attempts to regulate payday loans in Mississippi didn’t do enough to bring interest rates down to a reasonable cost for borrowers, and the new bill works to make sure that consumers are protected against unfair abuses of usury laws.
Prior to the new law passed, a local newspaper reported that the average Mississippi payday loan customer paid over $1,000 in interest for every $350 borrowed. Recent regulations put in place protect consumers from lenders who jack up interest rates in the interest of turning a tidy profit rather than just compensating for losses in a risky business.
The truth is that payday loans are a risk for both borrowers and lenders. They provide a great service for residents with limited access to other banking services due to poor credit, but lenders take a risk in lending to people with past credit problems. The interest rates charged by these lenders serve to compensate for some of this risk. Consumers, on the other hand, take a risk in trusting that their lender will charge a fair interest rate and not try to gouge them for a profit.
The legislation proposed in Mississippi makes interest rates fair for both lenders and borrowers alike. Consumers are protected with a reasonable interest rate cap that is considerably less than the annual percentage rate on an average bank overdraft fee, and lenders are protected by being allowed to charge somewhat higher interest rates to keep their business healthy. When 60 minute payday loan laws benefit both sides, everybody wins with access to the cash they need at a decent rate.
How does your state protect consumers while still giving them access to alternative credit services? If you feel like your state’s stance isn’t fair, take action and alert your representatives today.