Payday & installment loans in Tennessee

If you're a Tennessee resident looking for a payday or installment loan, they're legal and available here, with state licensing and a statewide database keeping the market regulated. This page explains how it works and the cities we serve.

Great Plains Lending is a free loan-matching service — not a lender and not a bank. We connect borrowers with personal, installment, payday, and tribal lenders for amounts up to $5,000. Checking your options takes about five minutes and uses a soft credit check that does not affect your score.

How loan matching works in Tennessee

There's nothing to do in person — everything happens online:

• One short form. Tell us how much you need and a few details about your income and bank account — about 5 minutes.
• Soft check, no score impact. We show potential offers using a soft inquiry, so comparing costs you nothing and never dings your credit.
• Matched to lenders that serve Tennessee. We connect you only with lenders able to work with Tennessee residents.
• Funding by direct deposit. If a lender approves you and you accept, money is typically sent as soon as the same or next business day.

How Tennessee payday loans work

Tennessee allows single-payment payday loans up to $500 under the Deferred Presentment Services Act, with a fee typically around 15% of the advance and terms up to about 31 days. Larger installment loans are available under separate state laws (such as the Industrial Loan and Thrift and Flexible Credit Acts). Lenders must be licensed by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and report to a statewide database.

Payday loans are still high-cost, so read the total dollar cost before you sign — an installment loan repaid over months is usually cheaper per dollar than a single-payment payday loan.

Loan types available

Through our network you can request:

• Installment loans — up to $5,000, fixed monthly or bi-weekly payments; usually cheaper per dollar than a single-payment payday loan.
• Personal loans — unsecured up to $5,000 for almost any expense.
• Payday-style loans — smaller, short-term amounts.
• Tribal loans — installment loans from tribal direct lenders, which operate under tribal-nation sovereignty; availability varies.

Payday loans by Tennessee city

Because everything is online, you can request a match from anywhere in Tennessee:

• Memphis — West Tennessee's largest market; see our dedicated Memphis page.
• Nashville — Middle Tennessee; see our dedicated Nashville page.
• Knoxville & Chattanooga — East Tennessee; request online and skip the storefront.

Check your options in about five minutes — funding arrives by direct deposit anywhere in Tennessee.

What you need to qualify

Lenders generally look for:

• Age 18 or older and a U.S. resident with a Tennessee address.
• Regular, verifiable income — employment, self-employment, Social Security, disability, or other benefits.
• An active checking account in your name for direct deposit.
• A working phone number and email address.

Bad credit or no credit history is considered; approval is the lender's decision and leans on your ability to repay.

Lower-cost options first

Before any high-cost loan, weigh cheaper help:

• Credit-union Payday Alternative Loans (PALs), capped at 28% APR, from a federal credit union you can join.
• Tennessee 2-1-1 for help with rent, utilities, and food.
• A payment plan with the biller you're trying to cover — often free.

Borrow responsibly. A short-term loan is a tool for genuine short-term needs — not a long-term fix. Texas payday and auto-title loans are among the most expensive credit available, so borrow only what you can repay, and read the full fee schedule before you sign.

Tennessee loans FAQ