What New Hampshire law allows
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payday loans[1][2] | Allowed | 36% APR | Up to $500 | 7 days to 30 days | Payday Loan Lender license under RSA 399-A, issued by the New Hampshire Banking Department | N.H. RSA 399-A:17 |
| Verified against the statute and regulator on September 23, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the regulator before you borrow. | ||||||
Bars place each APR cap on a 0 to 400% scale; the pin marks the cap. A striped bar means the statute sets no numeric cap.
The rules in full
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- "The annual percentage rate for payday loans shall not exceed 36 percent" (RSA 399-A:17, I).
- Fees
- "No other charges or fees shall apply to or be collected on payday loans" beyond interest within the 36% APR cap (RSA 399-A:17, II).
- License
- Payday Loan Lender license under RSA 399-A, issued by the New Hampshire Banking Department.
Full detail for every loan type: New Hampshire lending laws.
Help in New Hampshire
Money snapshot for New Hampshire
Other options in New Hampshire
Worth checking whatever your credit: these can cost less than a high-rate loan.
- Emergency loans in New Hampshire: allowed under New Hampshire law; see its limits and license rules.
- Installment loans in New Hampshire: allowed under New Hampshire law; see its limits and license rules.
- Personal loans in New Hampshire: allowed under New Hampshire law; see its limits and license rules.
- Title loans in New Hampshire: allowed under New Hampshire law; see its limits and license rules.
- Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs). Federal credit unions may offer small loans of up to $2,000 with terms of up to 12 months and an APR no higher than 28%, under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21). You usually need to be a member.
- Nonprofit credit counseling. A counselor accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling can help you build a budget or a debt management plan.
- Ask your creditor for a payment plan. Utilities, hospitals and many lenders offer hardship or extended payment plans if you ask before you miss a payment.
- Local assistance. Call 211, or visit 211.org, for emergency help with rent, utilities and food in New Hampshire.
Payday loans in nearby states
- VermontNot allowed Not allowed
- MassachusettsNot allowed Not allowed
- Rhode IslandAllowed No numeric cap
- ConnecticutNot allowed Not allowed
- MaineAllowed 30% APR (top tier)
Sources
- gc.nh.gov. N.H. RSA 399-A:17. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- banking.nh.gov. New Hampshire Banking Department. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: New Hampshire. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Vintage 2024 National and State Population Estimates. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), All States, Seasonally Adjusted. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
Important disclosures
APRs vary by lender and state in New Hampshire. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $500
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 36%
- Repayment
- 1 payment after 30 days
- Payment
- $514.79
- Finance charge
- $14.79
- Total of payments
- $514.79
Example: a $500 payday loan at 36% APR repaid in 1 payment after 30 days costs $514.79, including a finance charge of $14.79. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in New Hampshire? Contact the New Hampshire Banking Department or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.