When it comes to giving your personal information online, you want to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company. Since there are so many payday loan websites out there, how would you decipher from one site from another when it comes to safe guarding your personal information? This is why we have compiled a list of companies that are listed with the BBB, so you have someone on your side should a problem occur.

You will find below a list of payday loan companies we recommend to use when looking for online payday loan lenders. These payday loan online direct lenders only provide short-term cash advances and provide excellent customer service:

PayDay One - Fill out an application with Payday One

Loan: The maximum amount varies from $500 to as high as $1,000, depending on the state.
Fees: Interest rates vary per state, with some offering $22.50 per $100 borrowed.

The online application is simple, and can be filled out and submitted at any time. The site is guaranteed secure, and their user interface is easy to navigate. Once your loan application has been submitted, you can expect the decision within a matter of minutes. As soon as you accept the offer, it is guaranteed that the loan would be credited on the next business day, given that the loan was made before 5 PM. They also offer the Great Rate Guarantee feature which states that if you find a lower price with a similar online payday loan lender, they will match that rate. Another great thing about this company is that they offer one of the lowest rates among similar online loan lenders.

The downside is that though they provide information on how to get in touch with them, they do not offer live chat service. Nevertheless, PayDay One presents a satisfactory overall process, and remains somewhat less costly than other payday loan services.

CashNetUSA - Fill out an application with CashNetUSA

Loan: The amount that an applicant can take out is restricted to $500 in some states, but can go up to as high as $1,500 in other states. This is also determined by the borrower’s income.
Fees: Costs depend on the state. May range from $20 for every $100 borrowed, to $25 for borrowed amounts of $250 to $300 plus 30% APR.

Their application form is easy to understand and fill out, and the website is organized. They also provide lots of information about the company on their site, ranging from various articles to full disclosure of fees. The online service also appears to utilize encryption methods that sufficiently safeguard personal information transferred over the web.

Unlike many other payday loan lenders, CashNetUsa provides many ways in which loan applicants can contact them, and post a list of states where they are licensed to operate. Not only do they have a FAQ page, but they also offer telephone, live chat, and email support.

Cash Central – Fill out an application with Cash Central

Loan: Depending on the state, a prospective applicant can loan up to $500. Fees: Loan fees vary by state, but the average is $15-$20 per $100 borrowed.

The online site is not only secure, but user-friendly and very informative, with a number of articles that range from detailing how the loan can be processed, to useful information communicated via the FAQ page. Their application process is simple, and operates 24/7. They also provide various means of contacting them through live chat with a customer representative, email, or telephone support. They also have a “refer a friend” program, wherein an existing customer can receive $20 if they can successfully refer a new customer to Cash Central.

Cash Central offers a satisfactory payday loan program with competitive fee rates; however, the downfall is that they do not offer their services in more states, and their loan limit is not exactly that high to begin with.

These are the best online payday loan lenders and they provide loans in the following states:   * Alabama * Alaska * Arizona * Arkansas * California * Colorado * Delaware * Florida * Hawaii * Idaho * Illinois * Indiana * Iowa * Kansas * Kentucky * Louisiana * Michigan * Minnesota * Mississippi * Missouri * Montana * Nebraska * Nevada * New Hampshire * New Mexico * North Dakota * Ohio * Oklahoma * Oregon * Rhode Island * South Carolina * South Dakota * Tennessee * Texas * Utah * Virginia * Virgin Islands * Washington * Wisconsin * Wyoming

Payday loans are sometimes given a bad press, chiefly because people sometimes misuse them and get themselves into more financial trouble. But used correctly, Payday Loans can be another important and useful too in your financial arsenal. With the popularity of payday loans on the rise, thanks to a struggling economy and the combination of a drop in wages and a rise in the cost of living, it is worth looking at the advantages such loans can offer and how to use them correctly, simply because more and more people are likely to find themselves having to use them at some time or another.

First, it is worth examining how not to use a payday loan. If you find yourself in financial strife and don’t have the time and/or capability of getting a loan from your bank or other financial institutions that will tide you over to your next pay check then you might consider a payday loan. But you should only do this if you know you have a pay check coming in a few days time and you should only ever borrow an amount that is significantly less than your pay check. That way you will always be certain of paying back the payday loan within the agreed schedule. Payday loans are designed to be short term loans and the charges on the loan only start really piling on when you miss your repayment schedule. So if you think there is any chance of you not being able to pay it back, don’t take it out in the first place. What you absolutely want to avoid is getting into a vicious circle where you are taking out one payday loan to cover another and become reliant on them. That way lies more debt. It will also affect your credit score negatively.

However, many financial experts have pointed out that used correctly payday loans are an important new tool. They now offer a legal and safe version of short term loans that used to be filled by loan sharks. They offer an economic lifesaver to people when no other institution will help them and when they are facing hardship. An example of when a payday loan is useful would be if you had a slow month at work or missed a few days because you were sick, but have a month of fulltime work ahead. It might be that you need to top up the first months earnings and know for certain you can pay it back in a few days time. Or another instance might be where you are due to start work at a new job after having been off work for six weeks. Perhaps you have run out of savings and need to buy a suit for your new job, but are confident that your new job will be bringing in significant earnings. In such cases, payday loans can help out of your bank is not willing to help you or your credit card is maxed out.

Similarly if you have a sudden shock bill come in from a utility company who are threatening to turn off their supply. The bank might not be able to offer you a short term loan, even if you know you can pay in a few days, but by not paying you will end up owing the utility company even more money to get reconnected. In such cases, emergency cases, it is worth considering payday loans.

The most important thing to remember is never to take out a payday loan you cannot afford to pay back within a week or two. Stick to that principle, make your payment on time and payday loans will be helpful in a financial emergency.

Esther is a financial writer and blogger. She writes about financial issues affecting the consumer, from mortgages to overdrafts to taxes. She also writes a blog for www.paydayloansuk.org.uk .