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TN state reference

Tennessee lending rules

Tennessee has 344 Census places covered on Personalloaned, with a combined estimated population of 3,612,104. Personal-loan terms in Tennessee are set by licensed lenders under state law; the sourced rules below apply to every borrower in the state.

By the Personalloaned Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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Sourced rules

Key rules for borrowers in Tennessee

RuleDetailSource
Payday lending status Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103)
Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license		 Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI)
as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders
Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee		 Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI)
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulator Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI)
Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies		 Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI)
as of 2026-09-16

Cities in Tennessee

We cover 344 Census places in Tennessee. The count and the combined population figures are summed from the US Census Bureau's Vintage 2023 subcounty population estimates (retrieved 2026-09-17).

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What interest rate can a lender charge in Tennessee?
It depends on the product and the statute that governs it. The sourced table on this page lists Tennessee's usury cap and the licensing rules, each with its publisher and a link to the primary source.
Are payday loans legal in Tennessee?
Payday lending is regulated state by state; some states permit it, some cap it, and some prohibit it outright. See the sourced figure on this page for the current position.
Do I need a license to lend money in Tennessee?
Most consumer lenders must be licensed by the state regulator named on this page. You can verify a lender's license with that regulator before you sign anything.

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