A recent report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has finally brought to light hard evidence to dispel the idea that payday loan providers are engaging in ‘predatory lending’ practices.
The report (available here) offers the results of a study of households in Georgia and North Carolina, two states which banned payday loans in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Compared with households in other states, those in both Georgia and North Carolina recorded more bounced checks, more complaints about lenders to the Federal Trade Commission and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at a discernibly higher rate.
The report authors attribute this rise in credit risk and penalties to the decrease in responsible credit options available to sub-prime consumers. In the 2-3 years since payday loan lending was banned, consumers in these states have great financial challenges with far fewer options.
When these laws were enacted, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) estimated it would save consumers $154 million per year in loan fees and interest. What they neglected to take notice of, is that the fees for bounced checks, credit late fees and NSF charges outweighed the fees for responsible payday loans – leading GA and NC residents not to save hundreds of millions, but instead pay millions more in penalties.
Luckily, most states recognize the benefit of cash advances and payday loans for their citizens’ short-term money needs. While these cash advance options should not be used as long-term financial solutions, they are one responsible option for consumers to face immediate money needs without paying unnecessary late fees or overdraft penalties.
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