DECATUR - Protesters from Decatur, Springfield and elsewhere gathered outside the doors of Advance America, the payday lender near the corner of 22nd and Eldorado streets Saturday to voice their frustration over what they called "predatory lending practices."

"The worst present you can give your family this Christmas is a payday loan," said the Rev. Robert Bushey, speaking through a megaphone to about 30 supporters gathered around the store. "These kinds of loans are usury, and you're going to pay back so much more. We want to say to the big banks who fund the payday lenders that its time for them to get out of the business."

Bushey, pastor at Central Christian Church in Decatur, said the group, which was made up of activists with the Central Illinois Organizing Project and churchgoers from Springfield and Decatur, was gathering to protest usury - charging interest on lending, a practice frowned upon in the Bible - and to decry Advance America for charging as much as 400 percent interest on loans.

"It's especially important during this weekend, when everybody's out making this last push before Christmas, they want to do the right thing for their family, we're telling them this is the worst way to do it," Bushey said.

Employees at the business refused protesters entry when they arrived. The business usually keeps its doors locked for security purposes. Employees declined to speak with the Herald & Review, but Advance America spokesman Jamie Fulmer responded to questions following the protest.

"I think it's extremely unfortunate that this group continues to use their bullying tactics to threaten, bully and intimidate our customers, who have made a fully informed choice to use our services because they are oftentimes the most transparent option and the most simple and convenient option," Fulmer said.

The protesters left from Prairie Avenue Christian Church, chanting and bearing signs that read, "Usury hurts families," "Payday lending is all about greed" and "Greed is not a family value," among other things. Bushey and other protest leaders presented the business with a letter to the company's CEO asking for interest rates to be lowered to 10 percent and beseeching parent company Bank of America to hold off on home foreclosures during the holidays.

John Baird, in his capacity as Santa Claus, left some lumps of coal on the doorstep. The protest passed briefly and peaceably.

Baird's brother Neil, who lives in Decatur and attends Central Christian Church, said he came out to the protest because he feels the loans issued by places such as Advance America take advantage of those who are already down on their luck.

"That these big banks that we bailed out are turning around and giving money to predatory lenders like this affects a lot of the poorer people and more uneducated people of Decatur who do not realize what they're getting into," Baird said.

Fulmer disagreed, saying short-term borrowing rates often are less of a burden on consumers than missing payments and racking up penalties and fees.

"(Consumers) clearly understand how much it costs and how much the alternatives they have cost, and they make a fully-informed decision to use it," Fulmer said.

klowe@herald-review.com|421-7985