Washington DFI: Your Loan Regulator
Everything a borrower should know about the Washington Department of Financial Institutions.
Knowledge Base
Loan Guides for Seattle, WA
Clear, sourced answers on borrowing in Washington — state rules, real costs, and safer alternatives.
Everything here is written for Seattle residents and checked against official Washington sources. Use the topics below to find loan laws, worked cost examples, and alternatives to high-cost borrowing.
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The 8-Loan Limit and Washington’s Database
How Washington’s 8-loans-per-year cap and real-time lending database protect borrowers.
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Washington Payday Loan Laws Explained
A plain-English overview of Washington’s strict payday loan rules and the protections every borrower has.
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The $700 or 30%-of-Income Payday Cap
Understand exactly how Washington’s dual $700-or-30%-of-income borrowing cap is calculated.
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Washington Payday Loan Fees: 15% and 10%
A breakdown of Washington’s tiered payday loan fees and what they cost in real dollars.