In Texas, small-dollar lending is supervised by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC). Payday and title loans are usually arranged through licensed credit access businesses, while installment lenders are licensed as regulated lenders. You can request $200 to $5,000 through CashCentralLoansUSA; an offer depends on lenders able to lend in Texas.
Key takeaways
- Supervised by the OCCC
- Payday and title loans run through credit access businesses
- Check a license with the OCCC licensee search
Texas at a glance
- Regulator
- Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC)
- Payday & title loans
- Arranged by licensed credit access businesses (CABs)
- Installment lenders
- Licensed as regulated lenders
- Verify a license
- OCCC licensee search
On this page
- How Texas law shapes Cash Central loans
- Texas loan types at a glance
- How to check a lender’s license in Texas
- Common reasons Texans request $200 to $5,000
- Eligibility basics for Texas borrowers
- Representative example: what a Texas offer can cost
- How to request Cash Central loans in Texas
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Searching for Cash Central loans in Texas usually means you need money for a bill that can’t wait and you want to know what’s actually allowed where you live. CashCentralLoansUSA is an independent loan-request service, not a lender. You fill out one form, and we share it with lenders in our network that offer $200 to $5,000. Whether any of them can make you an offer depends on whether they are licensed or otherwise able to lend in Texas, and on your own profile.
If you searched for Cash Central loans in Texas, the most useful starting point is how Texas law treats small consumer loans, because it shapes every offer a lender can make there. CashCentralLoansUSA is an independent request service, not Cash Central and not a lender; whether you receive an offer depends on lenders in our network that are licensed or otherwise able to lend in Texas.
Texas is one of the states where the type of company you deal with matters a great deal. The same amount of money can come through very different structures, with very different costs. This page explains those structures in plain language so you can read any offer with confidence.
How Texas law shapes Cash Central loans
Consumer lending in Texas is supervised mainly by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC). Two licensing categories cover most of the small-dollar credit Texans see.
Credit access businesses (CABs)
Texas Finance Code Chapter 393, the law on credit services organizations, includes the rules for credit access businesses. According to the OCCC, a CAB arranges credit for a consumer from an independent third-party lender. The products arranged this way are deferred presentment transactions, commonly called payday loans, and motor vehicle title loans, commonly called title loans.
The structure works like this:
- You sign a promissory note with the third-party lender that actually provides the money.
- You also sign a separate credit services agreement with the CAB, which charges its own fee for arranging the loan. The OCCC notes that this fee is usually a percentage of the loan amount.
- Payments are made to the CAB.
- The CAB is the business that holds the OCCC license, not the third-party lender.
Because the CAB fee sits on top of the lender’s interest, the total cost of a CAB loan can be much higher than the interest rate alone suggests. A 2015 Texas Senate bill analysis described CAB fees as set by agreement between the parties. Always look at the APR and the total of payments in your disclosures, not only the interest rate on the note.
Regulated lenders
The OCCC also licenses regulated lenders. In the OCCC’s words, regulated consumer loans are made at interest rates greater than 10%, and non-bank lenders that make, handle or collect those loans must hold an OCCC license. Most of these loans follow one of two rate structures set out in Chapter 342 of the Texas Finance Code. Traditional installment loans, repaid in equal payments over several months, are usually made under this license.
City ordinances
Some Texas cities add local rules for credit access businesses. Fort Worth, for example, requires CABs to register with the city and, under its ordinance, limits a payday loan to 20% of the borrower’s gross monthly income and an auto title loan to the lesser of 3% of gross annual income or 70% of the vehicle’s retail value. The same ordinance caps installment-style CAB loans at four installments, each repaying at least 25% of the principal. Rules differ from city to city, so check with your own city if you plan to use a CAB.
Texas loan types at a glance
| Loan type | Who you deal with | OCCC license held by | What to check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installment loan from a regulated lender | The lender directly | The lender | APR, number of payments, total of payments |
| Payday loan arranged by a CAB | A CAB and a third-party lender | The CAB | CAB fee, due date, renewal terms |
| Title loan arranged by a CAB | A CAB and a third-party lender | The CAB | Total cost and the risk to your vehicle |
If you see an offer after you submit a request, the agreement should tell you which of these structures applies. When in doubt, ask the company directly whether it is a regulated lender or a CAB. Our installment loans page explains how fixed monthly payments work.
How to check a lender’s license in Texas
A few minutes of checking can protect you from unlicensed operators and advance-fee scams. Before you sign anything:
- Search the OCCC licensee database. The OCCC publishes a free Licensee Search through its ALECS system at occc.texas.gov. Search by company name and confirm the license type matches what the company says it does.
- Try NMLS Consumer Access. Many lenders that operate in several states list their state licenses on nmlsconsumeraccess.org. It’s a useful second check, though not every license type appears there.
- Read the agreement header. The note and any credit services agreement should name the lender, the CAB if there is one, and their addresses.
- Know where to complain. The OCCC takes complaints online, with a complaint form available in English and Spanish, and runs a Consumer Assistance helpline at 800-538-1579.
For a state-by-state overview of how licensing works, see our states we serve page and our state disclosures.
Common reasons Texans request $200 to $5,000
Every household is different, but many requests from Texas come down to a few familiar situations:
- Air conditioning repairs. Long, hot summers make a broken AC unit an urgent expense rather than an inconvenience.
- Car repairs. In much of Texas, a working vehicle is how people get to work, school and medical appointments.
- Storm and flood costs. Insurance deductibles, roof patches and cleanup after severe weather often arrive before a claim pays out.
- Medical and dental bills. Unexpected out-of-pocket costs that need to be paid or put on a plan.
- Gaps between paychecks. Rent or a utility bill due a few days before payday.
Before borrowing, it’s worth asking the business you owe whether it offers a payment plan. Utility companies, hospitals and repair shops often do, and a plan can cost less than a loan.
Eligibility basics for Texas borrowers
Each lender sets its own rules, but most in our network start with the same core list:
- You are at least 18 and live in Texas with a valid physical address.
- You have a regular source of income, such as wages, self-employment or benefits.
- You have an active checking account in your name for deposits and payments.
- You have a valid Social Security number, a phone number and an email address.
Some situations usually mean a lender can’t move forward:
- Income that can’t be verified, or no checking account.
- An open bankruptcy case.
- Information that doesn’t match identity records.
- No lender in the network that is able to lend in Texas for your profile at that time.
Our eligibility page covers documents and credit checks in more detail. Active-duty servicemembers and covered dependents are also protected by the federal Military Lending Act’s 36% Military APR limit on most consumer loans.
Representative example: what a Texas offer can cost
Cost depends on the lender, the loan structure, your credit and the term. As an illustration only, here is how a simple installment loan with no separate fees would work:
| Loan amount | APR | Monthly payments | Payment | Total interest | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | 29.99% | 12 | $194.96 | $339.57 | $2,339.57 |
A $2,000 loan at 29.99% APR over 12 monthly payments would have a payment of $194.96, total interest of $339.57 and a total repaid of $2,339.57. This is not an offer. Many Texas offers, especially CAB loans, can carry APRs far higher than this example because the CAB fee is part of the cost of credit. Compare the APR and total of payments on every offer, and read our rates and terms page for help with the numbers.
Read both documents on a CAB loan. If your offer is arranged by a credit access business, you should receive the lender’s note and the CAB’s agreement. The cost of credit is the combination of the two, so review both before you sign.
How to request Cash Central loans in Texas
- Decide on the amount. Borrow only what the bill requires. A smaller loan is easier to repay and costs less.
- Complete one form. Use our free loan request form. It takes about five minutes.
- Wait for a response. Lenders in our network that can lend in Texas review the request. If no lender can help, you’ll be told.
- Check the license and the terms. Use the steps above before you accept. You are never obligated to take an offer.
- Repay on schedule. If you expect trouble making a payment, call the lender before the due date.
CashCentralLoansUSA never charges you to submit a request and is not affiliated with Cash Central. When you’re ready, start your Texas request.
Comparing states? See how small-loan rules work in Louisiana, Tennessee and Kansas.
Frequently asked questions
Are Cash Central loans available in Texas through this site?
CashCentralLoansUSA is not Cash Central and is not a lender. You can submit a request from Texas, and it is shared with lenders in our network. An offer depends on whether a lender is licensed or able to lend in Texas and on your profile, so availability is never guaranteed. You see the full terms before you accept anything.
What is a credit access business in Texas?
A credit access business, or CAB, arranges a payday or title loan for you from an independent third-party lender and charges its own fee for doing so. The CAB holds the OCCC license, you sign a note with the lender and a separate agreement with the CAB, and payments go to the CAB. The CAB fee adds to the total cost of credit.
How do I check whether a lender is licensed in Texas?
Use the OCCC’s free Licensee Search on occc.texas.gov and search by the company’s name. You can also check NMLS Consumer Access for multistate lenders. If something seems wrong, the OCCC takes complaints online and through its Consumer Assistance helpline at 800-538-1579. The agreement itself should also name the lender and its address.
Do Texas cities have their own payday loan rules?
Some do. Fort Worth, for example, requires credit access businesses to register with the city and limits loan sizes and the number of installments or renewals under its ordinance. Rules vary from city to city, so if you are considering a payday or title loan through a CAB, check the rules where you live before you sign.
Can I request a loan in Texas with bad credit?
Yes, you can submit a request with any credit history. Many lenders in our network look at income and banking history as well as credit scores. A lower score can mean a smaller amount or a higher APR, and approval is never guaranteed. Requesting only what you need and entering accurate income details gives your request the best chance.
