On the issue of targeting financially vulnerable populations, that the Word and Way blogpost suggests, we wanted to quote Edmiston’s study, warts and all:

“Although a payday loan customer is typically financially vulnerable, payday lenders are not necessarily targeting their customers inappropriately. Identifying the motivations of lenders and customers is difficult. Payday lenders may create demand for their product by targeting financially vulnerable populations, or they may simply be locating their stores
where markets exist.”