Personal loans in Tennessee

Consumer lending in Tennessee is regulated by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Below are the sourced rules that affect what a lender can charge you, followed by the cities we cover.

Lending rules in Tennessee

Payday lending	Permitted and regulated — maximum loan amount: The aggregate face value of all outstanding checks from any one customer may not to exceed $500; maximum loan term: A licensee shall not defer presentment of any personal check for more than 31 calendar days after the date the check is tendered to the licensee. Finance charges: A licensee may charge a fee to defray operational costs, including, but not limited to, investigating the checking account and copying required documents, photographing the person signing the check, securing the check and customer records in a safe, fire-proof place, maintaining records as required by this chapter, maintaining required capital and liquidity, processing, documenting and closing the transaction, and for other expenses and losses. The fee authorized by this subsection (b) shall not exceed 15% of the face amount of the check. The fee, when made and collected, shall not be deemed interest for any purpose of lawSource: National Conference of State Legislatures · as of 2023
Small-loan / installment licensing	Consumer lenders must obtain a state license (Yes). Statutory basis: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 45-5-101, et seq. Tenn. Code. Ann. §§ 45-12-101 et seq. Licensing administered through NMLS: Yes.Source: Conference of State Bank Supervisors · as of 2026
Interest rate cap (usury limit)	Usury limit: 10% unless otherwise provided by contract (Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-14-103 (2020)). Finance rates and fees for licensed lenders: Varies depending on amount and term of loan May charge a periodic Interest rate not to exceed 24% per annum, and a customary fee not to exceed a daily rate of 0.7% of the average daily principal balance in any billing cycle. CSBS 50-state survey of consumer finance laws; state-verified usury catalog.Source: Conference of State Bank Supervisors · as of 2026
Consumer lending regulator	Consumer lenders in Tennessee are licensed and supervised by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.Source: Conference of State Bank Supervisors · as of 2026
Debt collection rules	Third-party debt collectors must comply with the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq.; state consumer-protection and debt-collection enforcement is handled by the Tennessee Office of the Attorney General and Reporter. The FDCPA expressly authorizes state attorneys general to enforce it (15 U.S.C. § 1692l). Some states also require collection agencies to be licensed.Source: Tennessee Office of the Attorney General and Reporter · as of 2026
Military lending protections	The federal Military Lending Act (MLA) caps the Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) at 36% for consumer credit extended to active-duty service members, their spouses and certain dependents, and bars mandatory arbitration and prepayment penalties on covered loans. Federal protection that applies nationwide, including in this state.Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · as of 2024
Complaint / licensing lookup	Check whether a lender holds a state license through NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) or the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions; consumers can file complaints with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions or the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.Source: Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) Consumer Access · as of 2026

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Cities in Tennessee

Nashville Memphis Knoxville Chattanooga Clarksville Murfreesboro Johnson City Kingsport Franklin Cleveland Jackson Bristol Hendersonville Bartlett Smyrna Collierville Spring Hill Brentwood Gallatin Columbia Germantown La Vergne Mount Juliet Lebanon Cookeville Maryville Oak Ridge Morristown Farragut Shelbyville East Ridge Tullahoma Springfield Sevierville Goodlettsville Dyersburg Dickson Seymour Greeneville Arlington Elizabethton Athens Powell McMinnville Lakeland Nolensville Soddy-Daisy Portland White House Lewisburg Manchester Crossville Red Bank Middle Valley Hartsville Lawrenceburg Union City Collegedale Alcoa Millington Martin Paris Clinton Lenoir City Atoka Halls Brownsville Winchester Fairview Oakland Fairfield Glade Signal Mountain Bloomingdale Covington Harrison Jefferson City Pulaski Milan Humboldt Ripley Lexington South Cleveland La Follette Savannah Dayton Green Hill Thompson's Station Fayetteville Church Hill Greenbrier Newport Lynchburg Pigeon Forge Munford Henderson Sweetwater Millersville Erwin Kingston Harriman Loudon Jonesborough Tellico Village Eagleton Village McKenzie Rockwood Mount Carmel Lafayette Dunlap Bolivar Madisonville Ashland City Sparta Medina Forest Hills Smithville Christiana Whiteville Pleasant View Oak Hill Mount Pleasant Lake Tansi Rogersville Coopertown Selmer Huntingdon Louisville Harrogate Trenton Waverly Apison Oak Grove Spurgeon Tiptonville Algood Livingston Wildwood Lake White Bluff Unicoi Oneida Karns Oliver Springs Hohenwald Gatlinburg Camden Park City Jasper Etowah Shackle Island Centerville Newbern Somerville Blountville Dandridge South Pittsburg Sale Creek Belle Meade Dresden Tusculum Bean Station Coalfield Mosheim Brighton Colonial Heights Kingston Springs Decherd New Tazewell Monterey Dyer Woodbury Westmoreland Sewanee Clifton Jacksboro Bells East Cleveland Pikeville Tazewell Maynardville Carthage Piperton Walnut Hill White Pine Ridgetop Rural Hill Parsons Adamsville Caryville Blaine Mascot Waynesboro Spring City Mountain City Greenfield Alamo Pegram Pine Crest Hopewell Strawberry Plains Bluff City Monteagle Unionville South Fulton Charlotte Lookout Mountain Hunter Tracy City Jamestown Estill Springs Surgoinsville Valley Forge Jellico Troy Ridgely Plainview Halls Mowbray Mountain Gladeville Central New Johnsonville Lakesite Decatur Crump Watertown Walden Vonore Biltmore Falling Water Whitwell Cross Plains Berry Hill McEwen Englewood Rocky Top Dover South Carthage Loretto New Union Three Way Powells Crossroads Celina Bon Aqua Junction Gruetli-Laager Norris Burns New Market Baxter Erin Fairmount Cornersville Rockvale Chapel Hill Cowan Spencer Sneedville Gordonsville Huntsville Kimball Fowlkes Olivet Hampton Lone Oak Benton Greenback Banner Hill Rutledge Gleason Graysville Wildwood Red Boiling Springs Kenton Tennessee Ridge Byrdstown Linden Wartburg Ardmore Sharon Lyles Dodson Branch Tellico Plains Bruceton Obion Sullivan Gardens Henning Rutherford Winfield Scotts Hill Midtown Gray Roan Mountain Atwood Bradford Huntland Orlinda Lakewood Park Collinwood Gainesboro Mason Rossville Fincastle Embreeville Riceville Trezevant Allardt Telford Altamont

Personal loans in Tennessee

Lending rules in Tennessee

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Cities in Tennessee

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