My car broke down three days before a work trip. I applied at the store near me and managed to take care of everything in time. It was much easier than I expected.
I needed extra cash for a medical co-pay after an unexpected doctor visit. The gentleman explained everything clearly without rushing me. Funds arrived the next day.
My bank turned me down because of my bad credit. Here, they asked about my current income instead.
I wanted to apply online, but decided to go to the store because I had some questions. The manager helped me compare options and choose one that aligned with my situation.
At 1795 Lancaster Dr NE, Cash Loans Bear helps residents access legitimate short-term financing whenever there are urgent expenses.
Our application procedure is simple and can be submitted either on the website or in the brick-and-mortar branch. You only need to fill out a form with personal and income information so we can evaluate your eligibility. If qualified, you receive a loan offer outlining the amount, repayment terms, and fees. You can review the agreement before signing anything to ensure it fits your monthly budget.
Most people who walk into the Lancaster Drive store are covering a gap of a few hundred dollars, not a long-term shortfall. The local picture explains the timing. The average wage across all occupations in the Salem metro area is $31.63 an hour, roughly $65,774 a year, while the area unemployment rate moved up to 5.2 percent in September 2025 from 4.2 percent a year earlier.3 City water, wastewater, and stormwater rates also rose 4.5 percent in January 2025 and again in January 2026, so a single billing cycle can land harder than it used to.3
Oregon is one of the stricter states for small-dollar credit. Interest on a payday or title loan is capped at 36 percent a year, and the lender may add one origination fee of 10 percent of the amount borrowed, up to $30. With that fee included, the highest APR a licensed lender can legally charge is 153.77 percent, according to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Personal installment loans of $50,000 or less are held to 36 percent APR with fees included.
| Rule | Oregon limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum interest rate | 36% per year |
| Origination fee | One-time, 10% of the loan, $30 maximum |
| Maximum APR with fees | 153.77% |
| Minimum loan term | 31 days |
| Maximum loan term | 60 days |
| Rollovers allowed | 2, then the balance must be paid in full |
| Cooling-off period | 7 days after the previous loan ends |
| Maximum loan amount | $50,000 (store limits are usually far lower) |
| Licensing | Required; an unlicensed loan is void in Oregon |
The state publishes the maximum a borrower should ever pay on a payday or title loan. If a lender quotes you more than this on the same amount, that is a warning sign.
| Amount borrowed | Origination fee + interest | Total you repay |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $13.06 | $113.06 |
| $200 | $26.12 | $226.12 |
| $300 | $39.17 | $339.17 |
Average annual percentage rate reported to Oregon regulators, 2024
Reading the numbers: the representative payday example in our site disclosure reflects states with looser rules. An offer made to an Oregon resident by a licensed lender has to stay inside the limits in the table above.
All amounts depend on your financial situation and the type of loan. Short-term loans are generally smaller, often around $300, but may reach up to $1,000, while installment loans may offer higher limits, up to $5,000. The average payday loan reported to state regulators in 2024 was $262.1 Installment loans may offer higher limits, up to $5,000. Loan limits and terms are regulated at the state level to help protect borrowers. For more information, you can refer to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation.
In most cases, funds are sent on the next business day after approval. However, same-day transfers may be available if the payment is processed before the bank’s cutoff time.
Apply online in just a few minutes.
Submit your application and get a quick decision.
Funds are sent directly to your debit card or bank account.
Statewide activity reported by licensed lenders, 2023 compared with 2024.
Small-dollar borrowing in Oregon is shrinking. Licensed lenders made 104,406 payday loans in 2024, down from 114,200 the year before, and title lending fell faster.1 Installment lending held its dollar value while the number of loans dropped, which means the average loan got bigger.
| Loan type | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payday loans | 114,200 | 104,406 | −8.6% |
| Title loans | 5,974 | 4,817 | −19.4% |
| Consumer finance (installment) | 170,340 | 149,884 | −12.0% |
| Payday loan value | $32.8M | $31.2M | −4.8% |
Oregon licensees reported 31,029 payday borrowers in 2024. Three out of four took five loans or fewer during the whole year, which is what a short-term loan is designed for. A smaller group borrowed repeatedly, and 1,041 people took 11 or more loans in twelve months.1
Repayment matters just as much as approval. About 15.4 percent of the payday loans made in Oregon in 2024 went into default at some point during the year.1 Before you sign, check the due date against your pay schedule, and ask about a payment plan the moment you think the date will be tight.
Additional documents may be required.
For more information about identification and lending requirements, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Bad credit welcome — current income matters most
Online or in-store options — pick any that suits you
Same-day funding — possible for approved loans*
Straightforward process — no complicated steps
Transparent terms — reviewed before signing anything
Reliable support — ongoing guidance at all stages
*Funds may be deposited on the same day if the application is sent before 10 a.m.
If the bill you are trying to cover is water, sewer, or stormwater, the City of Salem funds an Emergency Utility Assistance Program of up to $400,000 a year, which started in January 2025 alongside the utility rate increases.3 Ask the City’s utility billing office whether your account qualifies before you borrow.
Banks and credit unions are not bound by the state fee caps that apply to licensed payday lenders, and some offer small-dollar advances at much lower cost. It takes one call to find out.
Medical offices, utilities, and repair shops often split a bill over a few pay periods at no charge. That costs less than any loan.
Oregon pawnbrokers held an average loan of $287.59 at the end of 2025, and about one loan in three ended in forfeiture, meaning the borrower lost the pledged item.2
Your credit score isn’t the only factor considered, since we focus on your steady income. If you demonstrate that you can repay the loan, you may qualify even with less-than-perfect credit. Explore how income-based loans work.
Cash Loans Bear doesn’t offer title loans at this time. We focus mainly on unsecured options, which don’t require using any collateral. You may consider a payday or an installment loan instead, depending on the situation.
You can apply online through the Cash Loans Bear website from any device with Wi-Fi. The process is designed to be quick, secure, and convenient.
153.77 percent. Oregon caps interest at 36 percent a year and allows one origination fee of 10 percent of the loan, up to $30. Those two together produce the 153.77 percent ceiling published by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. On a $300 loan, the most you can legally repay is $339.17.
Twice. After two renewals you have to pay the loan amount and interest in full, and a lender cannot issue you a new payday loan until seven days after the previous one ends. The loan itself must run at least 31 days and no longer than 60.
Use the licensed payday and title lender list published by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, or call 888-877-4894. If a lender is not licensed in Oregon at the time it makes the loan, the loan is void and the lender cannot collect principal, interest, or fees.
Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
2024 Consumer Finance, Payday and Title Lending Annual Activity Report — state loan volume, average APR, borrower counts. 2025.
Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
Summary of Pawnbroker Annual Reports, December 31, 2025 — average pawn loan size and forfeiture rate. 2026.
City of Salem, Oregon
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025 — local wages, area unemployment, utility rates and assistance program. January 2026.
