A small loan for a real gap: the car repair before Friday, the bill that can't wait. No credit score check, fees set by state law and printed on your agreement, and cash at the counter in about 15 minutes.
One lump sum today, one payment on your next payday. Here's exactly what happens using a $300 Florida loan as the example.
Bring a photo ID, your most recent pay stub and an active checking account. No credit score is pulled. You sign in store and leave with cash.
No interest accrues day by day. The fee is fixed at signing, so the cost is the same whether payday is in 9 days or 13.
$300 principal + $30 finance charge + $3 verification + $1 state fee. Pay in store with cash, debit or card, or let the check clear.
Florida gives you a 60-day grace period with no extra fees if you complete a credit counseling session within 7 days.
Payday loan fees aren't set by us — they're set by state law and are the same at every licensed lender. Here's the Florida breakdown for a $100 loan.
| Borrow | Fees | Repay | APR* |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $24.00 | $224.00 | 312.86% |
| $300 | $34.00 | $334.00 | 295.48% |
| $400 | $44.00 | $444.00 | 286.79% |
| $500 | $54.00 | $554.00 | 281.57% |
Bears Lending offers payday loans in Florida and Alabama. Georgia law does not permit payday loans — Georgia customers can use a title pawn or installment loan instead.
| Amount | Charge | Total | APR* |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $24 | $224 | 312.86% |
| $300 | $34 | $334 | 295.48% |
| $400 | $44 | $444 | 286.79% |
| $500 | $54 | $554 | 281.57% |
$10 per $100 + $3 verification + $1 database fee. Maximum $500. One open payday loan at a time, 24-hour wait between loans. 60-day grace period available.
| Amount | Charge | Total | APR* |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $35.00 | $235.00 | 456.25% |
| $300 | $52.50 | $352.50 | 456.25% |
| $400 | $70.00 | $470.00 | 456.25% |
| $500 | $87.50 | $587.50 | 456.25% |
Fee up to 17.5% of the amount advanced. Maximum $500. Borrowers must be 19 or older. One rollover permitted; repayment plan available on request.
*APR assumes a 14-day term. A payday loan is designed for a few weeks, not months; if you need longer, an installment loan costs less over time. Loans subject to approval, state law and your written agreement.
Using a payday loan for months at a time is expensive. If that's where you are, call us — an installment loan at 89% APR costs far less than repeating a 300% payday loan.
Both states give you a way out that doesn't involve a new loan. The one rule: call your store before the due date.
Florida law lets you extend any payday loan by 60 days at no additional cost. To qualify:
Alabama allows one rollover, but a rollover adds a new fee. Ask for the repayment plan instead: the balance is split into installments with no additional charges as long as you stay current.
We verify your income against your pay stub, and in Florida we query the state deferred presentment database. That database only confirms you don't have another open payday loan; it isn't a credit report and doesn't affect your score.
The two most common choices for under $1,000. Same lender, same stores — different structure and very different cost over time.
| Feature | Payday loan | Installment loan |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | $200 – $500 | $500 – $5,000 |
| Repayment | One payment on payday | Equal monthly payments |
| Term | 7 – 31 days | 3 – 24 months |
| Cost of $500 for 2 weeks (FL) | $54 | ≈ $17 (at 89% APR) |
| Cost of $500 for 3 months | $162+ if renewed 3× | ≈ $68 |
| Credit check | None | Soft |
| Funding | 15 min in store | Same day, online or in store |
Short-term costs are lower with a payday loan; anything beyond one pay cycle favors an installment loan. Full comparison with 12-month numbers →
My transmission went out on a Tuesday and rent was due Friday. Walked into the Orange Park store, showed my pay stub, no credit check, and walked out with $450 in about 15 minutes. They explained the fee twice so I understood it before I signed.
Hours got cut and I couldn't cover the full $334 on payday. Called the Dothan store two days before, they set up a plan, no extra fees. Paid it off in three weeks.
From $200 to $500. Florida and Alabama both cap payday loans at $500 by law; your exact amount depends on your income. Need more? An installment loan → goes to $5,000.
No credit score check. We verify income and your checking account. In Florida we also query the state deferred presentment database, which only confirms you have no other open payday loan — it isn't a credit report.
About 15 minutes in store. Florida requires the agreement to be signed in person, so payday loans aren't completed fully online.
On your next payday — 7 to 31 days in Florida, 10 to 31 days in Alabama. The date is printed on your agreement and we send a reminder two days before.
Yes, any time, with no penalty. The fee is fixed at signing, so paying early doesn't reduce it, but it clears the loan and lets you borrow again if needed.
Florida: a 60-day grace period with no added fees after a credit counseling session. Alabama: a repayment plan. In both states, call before the due date. What happens if you don't pay →
No — Georgia law doesn't permit payday loans. Georgia stores offer title pawns →, installment loans and lines of credit.
No credit score check. Fees set by state law and shown in writing. Cash in about 15 minutes at any Florida or Alabama store.
Photo ID · most recent pay stub · active checking account · phone number. Age 18+ (FL) or 19+ (AL).
Store hours
Bears Lending