What people use personal loans for
A personal loan is a lump sum repaid in fixed monthly payments, often for a larger cost such as a car repair, a move or medical bills; the examples below stay within Indiana limits.
What personal loans can cost
These examples show how cost adds up. They are illustrative, not a quote. Your lender sets the actual rate and terms.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $3,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $292.45
- Finance charge
- $509.40
- Total of payments
- $3,509.40
Example: a $3,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $292.45 costs $3,509.40 in total, including a finance charge of $509.40. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $1,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $97.48
- Finance charge
- $169.76
- Total of payments
- $1,169.76
Example: a $1,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $97.48 costs $1,169.76 in total, including a finance charge of $169.76. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $500
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $48.74
- Finance charge
- $84.88
- Total of payments
- $584.88
Example: a $500 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $48.74 costs $584.88 in total, including a finance charge of $84.88. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
What Indiana law allows
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] | Allowed | 36% APR (top tier) | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Loan License | IC 24-4.5-3, esp. IC 24-4.5-3-508 |
| 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
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- IC 24-4.5-3-508(2): a supervised lender may charge the greater of (a) tiered rates of 36% per year on unpaid principal up to $2,000, 21% on the part from $2,000 to $4,000, and 15% on the part above $4,000, or (b) 25% per year on the unpaid principal. Dollar breakpoints are subject to Indiana's index adjustments. A separate general criminal usury ceiling of 72% APR applies statewide.
- Fees
- For loans made after June 30, 2020, a nonrefundable prepaid finance charge of up to $75 (principal of $2,000 or less), $150 ($2,001 to $4,000), or $200 (over $4,000) may be charged (IC 24-4.5-3-508).
- License
- Loan License (supervised lender) under the Indiana UCCC, issued by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Consumer Credit Division.
Full detail for every loan type: Indiana lending laws.
Help in Indiana
Rent and jobs in Indiana
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Other options in Indiana
Cheaper options to try first
Worth checking whatever your credit: these can cost less than a high-rate loan.
- Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs), capped at 28% APR under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21).
- Nonprofit credit counseling through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
- A payment plan from the company you owe, if you ask before you miss a payment.
- 211 for help with rent, utilities and food: call 211 or visit 211.org.
More cheaper options in Indiana.
Other loan types allowed in Indiana
- Installment loans in Indiana
- Emergency loans in Indiana
- Title loans in Indiana High-cost loan
- Payday loans in Indiana High-cost loan
Personal loans in nearby states
- IllinoisAllowed 36% APR
- KentuckyAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
- OhioAllowed 25% APR
- TennesseeAllowed 24% APR
- West VirginiaAllowed 31% APR (top tier)
Sources
- in.gov. Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Consumer Credit Division. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- codes.findlaw.com/in/title-24-trade-regulation/in-code-sect-24-4-5-7-102. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- codes.findlaw.com. IC 24-4.5-3, esp. IC 24-4.5-3-508. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Indiana. 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 Indiana. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in Indiana? Contact the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Consumer Credit Division or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.