We are an organization of businesses, consumer advocates and faith based groups working to stop payday loans in Virginia.  We work with numerous faith based, civic and community organizations opposed to payday lending.  A payday loan, also known as a cash advance, is intended to be a short term loan but many people become trapped in a cycle of debt that can last for months or even years. 

Payday lenders can legally charge up to 782% APR on a cash advance loan in Virginia as a result of a special exemption granted to them in the Payday Loan Act of 2002.  Virginians Against Payday Loans has three main goals:

1)   Repeal of the Payday Loan Act of 2002, or the implementation of a 36% APR cap on all payday loans;

2)   Development of financial alternatives to payday loans;

3)   Increasing financial literacy among those most likely to take out a payday loan.