Payday loan use fell during pandemic, but will rebound

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Government pandemic aid may have helped some Californians avoid resorting to expensive payday loans last year, but some experts say it may be too early to celebrate.

A new report has found that in 2020, California saw a 40% drop in underwritten payday loans from 2019, a drop equivalent to $ 1.1 billion. Almost half a million fewer people have not used payday loans, down 30% from 2019.

Despite the unprecedented job loss triggered by the pandemic last year, the government-funded financial aid has been enough to have a huge impact on the payday lending industry, according to the California Department of Financial Protection and of innovation. The new State Department released the report last week as part of its continued efforts to regulate and supervise consumer financial products.

The report follows California’s new $ 262.6 billion budget, with multiple programs aimed at reducing economic inequality within the state. An unprecedented $ 11.9 billion will be spent in Golden State Stimulus payments, a one-time benefit that is not expected to continue for years to come.

“With the disappearance of these benefits, we expect that there will potentially be an increase (in payday loans),” said department spokeswoman Maria Luisa Cesar.

Only temporary relief

Industry representatives, state regulators and consumer advocates agree: government aid has helped Californians avoid reliance on payday loans, high-interest short-term loans that have to be paid off in full when borrowers receive their next paycheck. Additional reports have revealed that the California trend mirrors trends in other states.

Thomas Leonard, executive director of the California Financial Service Providers Association, said 2020 is a tough year for the industry as the pandemic has changed the way consumers manage their finances. His association represents providers of small dollar consumer loans, payday loans, check cashing and other financial services to consumers.

“The demand for small loans fell in 2020 as many consumers stayed at home, paid off debts, managed fewer expenses and received direct payments from the government,” Leonard said in a statement.

On the other hand, Cesar said the decline in the use of payday loans is not necessarily a sign of a better financial situation for Californians.

“It’s just too simplistic of a picture,” she said. “The cash aid efforts may have helped consumers make ends meet, but people have not come out of the woods.”

Marisabel Torres, California policy director for the Center for Responsible Lending, said that despite the impact of pandemic relief on Californians, some of these programs already have an end date. The moratorium on evictions in California, for example, is expected to end on September 30. The deployment of rental assistance has been slow. Tenants with unpaid rent risk being evicted for those who cannot afford rent.

Once those programs are gone, Torres said, people will continue to need financial help.

“There’s still this large population that will continue to turn to these products,” Torres said.

With the exception of last year, the report showed that payday loan usage has remained stable over the past 10 years. But the use of payday loans doubled in the years following the Great Recession.

The state report does not provide any context on how consumers used payday loan money in 2020, but a 2012 Pew Charitable Trust study found that 69% of customers use the funds for spending. recurring items, including rent, groceries and bills.

Almost half of all payday loan clients in 2020 had an average annual income of less than $ 30,000 per year, and 30% of clients were making $ 20,000 or less per year. Annual reports also consistently show higher usage among clients earning more than $ 90,000 per year, although the financial monitoring department has not been able to explain why.

“Basic necessities, like groceries, rent… To live you have to pay for these things,” Torres said. “Anything that eases this economic pressure is good for people. ”

Lawmakers across California began to establish pilot programs that would ease some of this economic pressure. Stockton was the first town to experience a guaranteed income for its residents. Compton, Long Beach and Oakland have followed suit through the Mayors’ national guaranteed income effort. California approved its first guaranteed income program earlier this month.

Little regulation, high fees

Payday loans are considered to be some of the most expensive and financially dangerous loans that consumers can use. Experts say last year’s drop in usage is good for Californians, but the industry still lacks the regulations needed to reduce loan risk for low-income consumers.

California lawmakers have long attempted to regulate predatory lending in the state, but have failed to implement meaningful consumer protection against payday loans. The most notable legislation was passed in 2002, when California began requiring licenses from lenders. It also capped payday loans at $ 300.

Unlike other forms of borrowing, a payday loan is a short term loan where the borrower agrees to repay the money with their next paycheck. While lenders charge a fee instead of an interest rate, state regulators require an interest rate disclosure to indicate how expensive this form of borrowing is for consumers. When annualized, these loans average 361% in 2020.

In addition to sky-high interest rates, one of the industry’s main sources of income are fees, especially those of people who are serial reliant on payday loans.

A total of $ 164.7 million in transaction fees – 66% of industry commission revenue – came from clients who took out seven or more loans in 2020. About 55% of clients opened a new loan on the same day. of the end of their previous loan.

After multiple unsuccessful efforts over the past few years to regulate the industry, California lawmakers are not pursuing major reforms this session to combat the industry. Torres called for continued legislative efforts that would cap interest rates to ease what she calls the debt trap.

“It’s crazy to think that a decision maker would see this and say, ‘It’s okay. It is normal for my constituents to live in these circumstances, ”Torres said. “When it is in fact in the power of California policymakers to change that.”

Alternatives to a payday loan

There is evidence that the decrease in payroll activity correlates with COVID-19 relief efforts. While there are a number of factors in the decrease, they likely include the distribution of stimulus checks, loan abstentions, and the growth of alternative funding options. More commonly referred to as “early access to pay,” the new industry claims it is a safer alternative.

Businesses lend a portion of a client’s salary through phone apps and do not charge interest charges. The product is not yet regulated, but the state’s financial watchdog has announced that it will begin investigating five companies that currently provide the service.

The problem with this model, according to Torres, is that there is no direct pricing structure. To make a profit, apps require customers to tip for the service.

“Unfortunately, that tip often obscures the ultimate cost of the loan,” Torres said, adding that some companies go so far as to use psychological tactics to encourage customers to leave a big tip.

“Customers have expressed relief that our industry is always there for them under the most difficult circumstances and we are proud to be there during this time of need,” said Leonard.

Despite last year’s decline, 1.1 million customers borrowed a total of $ 1.7 billion in payday loans last year, with 75% of them coming back for at least one loan additional in the same year.

Torres said the Center for Responsible Lending continues to work with lawmakers to draft bills that would cap interest rates to make payday loans more affordable. Requiring lenders to assess the client’s ability to repay the loan would also prevent clients from falling into the debt trap, she said.

“They act like they’re offering this lifeline to someone,” Torres said. “It’s not a lifeline. They tie (the clients) with an anchor.

For the record: a previous version had the bad year for which California capped payday lending. That was in 2002. The story has also been updated to clarify how payday loans work and how borrowing costs are disclosed to consumers.

This article is part of California Division, a collaboration between newsrooms examining income inequality and economic survival in California.