Quick answer
Des Moines, IA residents can get loans from licensed lenders regulated by the Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB). Payday loans are legal. Call (800) 236-7761 or use the form to see which lenders will work with you today.
Loan options for Des Moines residents
Iowa law determines what loans are available, what they cost, and who can lend. Here is how each product stands under current Iowa law:
| Loan type | Status in IA | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Payday / cash advance | Legal | Fees are capped by statute in tiers under Iowa Code 533D.9; the exact tier figur |
| Cash advance | Legal | Licensed lenders |
| Title loans | Restricted | A loan secured by a certificate of title to a motor vehicle used for personal, f |
| Installment loans | Legal | Consumer loans are regulated under the Iowa Consumer Credit Code (Iowa Code Chap |
| Bad credit loans | Legal | Licensed lenders |
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Iowa loan rules at a glance
All loan products in Des Moines follow Iowa law. Licensed lenders are regulated by the Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB). Here are the key provisions for the most common loan types:
Iowa loan rules at a glance
- Payday max amount
- $500 maximum aggregate face amount of checks; no more than two checks outstanding from one borrower at any one time
- Payday term
- A post-dated check may be held no more than 31 days
- Payday cost cap
- Fees are capped by statute in tiers under Iowa Code 533D.9; the exact tier figures were not quoted in this review and sh
- Title loan term
- Minimum 30 days
- Title loan rate
- A loan secured by a certificate of title to a motor vehicle used for personal, family or household purposes may not carr
- Payday licensing
- Delayed Deposit Services Business license from the Iowa Division of Banking under Iowa Code 533D
- Governing statutes
- Chapter 187, Chapter 533D, Iowa Code 2026, Iowa Code 533D.9
Regulator: Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB) · Phone: 515-281-4014 · Statutes: Chapter 187, Chapter 533D, Iowa Code 2026, Iowa Code 533D.9 · Last verified: 2026-10-08
Cheaper options in Des Moines
Before you take a high-cost loan, check these local alternatives:
- County, area code(s), nearby cities for Des Moines (Census / FCC / state sources)
- Iowa product statuses restated concisely with regulator link (city inherits state law; never invent city-level law)
- Des Moines-specific local alternatives: credit unions offering PALs, municipal/state utility hardship programs, Des Moines 211 entry
- Nearby-city internal links