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Payday Loans in San Jose, CA: Stores, Costs and Rules
Updated November 2026 · By Payday Loans Reviews Editorial Team · Not a lender
Payday loans are available in San Jose through licensed lenders operating under California's Deferred Deposit Transaction Law. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, or CA DFPI, oversees these lenders. You can borrow up to $300 for a term between 7 and 31 days, with fees capped at 15% of the check face value. That means the maximum fee on any loan is $45.
Before you visit a store, compare these concrete costs. A $300 loan for 14 days carries a $45 fee, so you'll repay $345 total. That works out to an example APR of 391%. The typical APR in California runs about 460%. Rollovers are prohibited, and you can only have one active loan at a time. With median rent in San Jose at $2,672 and a poverty rate of 7.9%, that single $45 fee may feel small or large depending on your situation. The key is knowing the exact dollar amount you'll owe before you sign.
Santa Clara County · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area
San Jose borrowers and California payday laws
- Max loan amount
- $300
- Min loan term
- 7 days
- Max loan term
- 31 days
- Finance charge cap
- 15% of check face value
- Max absolute fee
- $45
- Typical APR
- ~460%
- Rollovers (extensions)
- Prohibited
- Simultaneous loans
- 1 active loan
- Right to rescind
- Next business day
- Governing law
- California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law
- Regulator
- CA DFPI
Payday loan cost calculator for San Jose
Move the sliders to see what a payday loan would cost under California rules and how it compares with local incomes.
California maximum: $300
California maximum: $15
Rollovers are not allowed in California.
- Fee
- $45
- Total to repay
- $345
- APR
- 391%
- Share of a two-week household paycheck in San Jose
- 0.8%
Estimate only. APR = fee ÷ amount × 365 ÷ term. Lenders may charge less than the state maximum; actual terms vary.
Payday loan stores in San Jose, CA
Licensed storefront lenders in San Jose with addresses, phone numbers and hours. We do not rank or recommend any lender; confirm each company's license with the CA DFPI before you borrow.
| Address | Phone | Hours | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 456 E Hedding St San Jose, CA 95112 | (408) 947-2072 | — | 4.9 |
| 5568 Monterey Road San Jose, CA 95138 | (408) 225-0480 | Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sun closed |
— |
| 4750 Almaden Expy #148 San Jose, CA 95118 | (408) 620-3900 | — | 4.9 |
| 1762 Technology Dr Ste 223 San Jose, CA 95110 | (707) 408-9050 | — | 4.8 |
| 3150 Almaden Expy Suite 200 San Jose, CA 95118 | (669) 288-5737 | — | 4.4 |
| 5132 Stevens Creek Blvd San Jose, CA 95129 | (408) 249-8220 | — | 3.9 |
| 1008 Blossom Hill Rd Ste G1 San Jose, CA 95123 | (408) 264-8488 | — | 3.8 |
| 189 Curtner Ave #40 San Jose, CA 95125 | (408) 906-8920 | — | 2.9 |
| 1636 Story Rd San Jose, CA 95122 | (669) 257-5072 | — | 5.0 |
| 201 Willow St San Jose, CA 95110 | (669) 282-3004 | — | 5.0 |
San Jose at a glance
| Metric | San Jose | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1.0M | 39.2M | 332.3M |
| Median household income | $143,392 | $102,369 | $85,275 |
| Median rent | $2,672/mo | $2,042/mo | $1,432/mo |
| Income spent on rent | 32.3% | 34.0% | 31.6% |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 56.5% | 65.4% |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 12.0% | 12.6% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| Without health insurance | 4.9% | 6.9% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | 4.5% | 6.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code. City and state figures are population-weighted averages of ZIP code data and are approximate.
What a payday loan costs in San Jose
- Fee on a $300 loan
- $45
- Share of a two-week household paycheck
- 0.8%
- Hours of work at the local median wage
- 1.6 hours
- Rollovers
- Not allowed in California
Example based on the California maximum fee for the maximum loan and local median incomes: two-week paycheck = household income ÷ 26, hourly wage = individual income ÷ 2,080. Actual terms vary by lender.
Payday loans in San Jose: how to apply
A flat tire or a doctor visit can strain your budget. If you need emergency funds in San Jose, we help you reach state-licensed lenders.
Apply from your phone or computer, get a speedy response, and, upon approval, have the money wired to your checking account by the next business day.
Why San Jose residents use us
- Fast 5-minute request A simple online application, with no waiting in line at a storefront.
- Bad credit considered Lenders focus on your steady income, not just your credit history.
- Borrow up to $300 The California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law governs what terms lenders are allowed to offer.
- Safe & confidential Your sensitive records travel over an encrypted, safeguarded connection.
Notice for San Jose residents: A payday advance serves temporary cash needs and is unsuitable for managing long-term debt. The California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law in California sets legal boundaries on borrowing limits, fees and interest charges. Make sure you understand all contract obligations prior to signing.
Read more about borrowing in San Jose
Who runs payday stores in San Jose
| Company | Stores | Share of stores | Average Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| OneMain Financial | 3 | 30% | 3.5 |
| Oportun | 2 | 20% | 5.0 |
| ACE Cash Express | 1 | 10% | 4.9 |
| Advance America | 1 | 10% | — |
| Lendmark Financial Services | 1 | 10% | 4.9 |
| loanDepot | 1 | 10% | 4.8 |
| Mariner Finance | 1 | 10% | 4.4 |
Store counts and ratings from our directory. We do not rank or recommend lenders.
San Jose in context
- Population rank in California
- 3rd
- of 213 California cities with 50,000+ residents
- Median household income rank
- 24th
- of 213 California cities with 50,000+ residents
- Households earning under $25,000
- 8.5%
- ▼ 4.2 pts vs CA
- Median home value
- $1,198,119
- ▲ 52% vs CA
- Home value to income
- 8.4×
- A $400 emergency expense
- 1.0 days
- of median household income
Local numbers for San Jose borrowers
San Jose has about 1,014,813 residents in Santa Clara County, among the biggest cities in California (No. 3 of 213). Census estimates put the typical San Jose household at $143,392 a year, comfortably above California as a whole ($102,369); nationally the median is $85,275.
Median rent in San Jose is $2,672 a month (31% above the California median of $2,042). Renters put roughly 32.3% of income toward housing. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line, below the California rate of 12.0%. 8.5% of households bring in less than $25,000. The jobless rate is about 4.6%, compared with 6.5% across California. About 58.2% of homes are owner-occupied, so 41.8% of households rent.
Repaying a $300 payday loan plus its $45 fee would use about 0.8% of a typical San Jose household's biweekly pay, or about 2 hours of work at the local median wage. Nearby Oakland has a median rent of $1,938, $734 less than San Jose. Los Gatos, close by, reports a median household income of $207,035. Our directories list 10 licensed loan storefronts, 9 credit unions, 120 bank branches and 3 pawn shops in San Jose.
The median home value is $1,198,119 (52% above the California median). The price-to-income ratio is near 8.4. Per person, median income is about $58,992. Many residents commute within the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area.
How San Jose compares with its neighbors
| City | Population | Median household income | Median rent | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 1,014,813 | $143,392 | $2,672 | 7.9% |
| Los Gatos | 50,535 | $207,035 | $3,001 | 4.5% |
| Mountain View | 83,464 | $180,124 | $2,980 | 5.4% |
| Fremont | 228,520 | $180,499 | $2,984 | 5.1% |
| Gilroy | 67,945 | $134,242 | $2,256 | 7.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates.
San Jose payday loan cost table
| Amount | Fee (14 days) | APR | Repay once | Repay after 2 renewals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $15 | 391% | $115 | $145 |
| $200 | $30 | 391% | $230 | $290 |
| $300 | $45 | 391% | $345 | $435 |
Fee of $15 per $100 per term from state rules in our database; renewals only where the state allows them.
FAQ for San Jose borrowers
How much do households earn in San Jose?
Census estimates show a median household income of $143,392 and a median rent of $2,672 a month in San Jose.
Where can I borrow locally in San Jose?
Our directories list 10 licensed loan storefronts and 9 credit unions in San Jose, California. Credit unions usually charge far less than storefront lenders for small loans.
Is San Jose an expensive place to rent?
Renters in San Jose spend about 32.3% of their income on housing, against a 30% affordability benchmark, and 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line (statewide: 12.0%).
Can residents of San Jose with less-than-perfect credit still qualify for a loan?
Poor credit alone may not block you. Lenders prioritize verifiable income and an active checking account over credit reports. However, approval cannot be guaranteed.
What are the basic rules to qualify for a loan in San Jose?
To qualify, you must:
- The minimum age is 18 years.
- You need to live in San Jose or a community close by in California.
- A personal checking account that is active and in your name is required.
- Lenders will ask for proof that you receive income each month from employment, benefits or repeating deposits.