What a loan can cost in North Dakota
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above North Dakota's cap for the amount. They are not quotes.
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.
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
- $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.
Resources in North Dakota
Free and low-cost help in North Dakota, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in North Dakota.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
nd.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
attorneygeneral.nd.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
myfirstlink.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
lsnd.org Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Help with a budget or a debt management plan.
nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026
Benefits portal
Check whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in North Dakota.
hhs.nd.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Federal complaints
Complaints about any lender, to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Submit a complaint to the CFPB
consumerfinance.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
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). 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.
- 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.
- Credit-builder loans: a small loan held in savings while you pay it off, which can help build a payment history.
- Secured credit cards: a card backed by a deposit you make, which can help build credit when you pay on time.
The rules lenders follow in North Dakota
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in North Dakota: installment and personal loans and payday loans. Not allowed: title loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4] | Allowed | 36% APR | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Money Broker license | N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-04.1; 13-04.1-09.3 |
| Title loans[5][6][4] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | NDCC 13-08-12 bars payday licensees from taking vehicle titles as collateral, which functionally forecloses a title-loan product under that license type | NDCC 13-08-12. |
| Payday loans[5][6][4] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | Fee cap | Up to $600 | Up to 2 months | Deferred Presentment Service Provider license | N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-08; NDCC 13-08-12 |
| 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.
Rate, fee and license rules in North Dakota
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Under N.D. Cent. Code 13-04.1-09.3(1), a licensed money broker may not contract for or receive finance charges in excess of an annual rate of 36%, including all charges and fees necessary for the extension of credit incurred at origination.
- Fees
- Late or nonpayment charges may not exceed 5% of the payment, and for loans of $50,000 or less may not exceed $20 per late payment (13-04.1-09.3(2)). For small loans under $2,000: equal installments, maximum term 36 months, no balloon payment, and refinance fees capped at $100 per calendar year (13-04.1-09.3(4)).
- License
- Money Broker license under N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-04.1, issued by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).
Title loans
- Fees
- N/A; product not authorized under a confirmed license.
- License
- NDCC 13-08-12 bars payday licensees from taking vehicle titles as collateral, which functionally forecloses a title-loan product under that license type.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- Payday loans (called 'deferred presentment service' transactions) are regulated under N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-08. A licensee's fee cannot exceed 20% of the amount advanced to the customer (e.g., a maximum $20 fee on a $100 advance).
- Fees
- Maximum finance charge is 20% of the amount advanced. Under NDCC 13-08-12, 'No property, titles to any property, or mortgage may be received or held directly or indirectly by the licensee as a condition of a deferred presentment service transaction or as a method of collection on a defaulted deferred presentment service transaction without proper civil process', i.e., payday licensees may not take a vehicle title as collateral.
- License
- Deferred Presentment Service Provider license under N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-08, issued by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).
Rent and jobs in North Dakota
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for North Dakota borrowers
Check your options in North Dakota
North Dakota questions
Does North Dakota law allow payday loans?
North Dakota law allows payday loans. State law caps the fee rather than the APR. Source: N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-08; NDCC 13-08-12.
What is the most a lender can charge in North Dakota?
By loan type in North Dakota: Installment and personal loans: 36% APR. Title loans: Not allowed. Payday loans: Fee cap.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in North Dakota?
You can file a complaint with North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in North Dakota on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in North Dakota?
North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in North Dakota. Use the license link under Resources in North Dakota on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in North Dakota?
Yes. Resources in North Dakota on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Nearby states
- South DakotaAllowed 36% APR
- MinnesotaAllowed 33% APR (top tier)
- NebraskaAllowed 24% APR (top tier)
- MontanaAllowed 36% APR
- WyomingAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
Sources
- ndlegis.gov/assembly/67-2021/testimony/HIBL-2103-20210317-9662-F-KREBS_COREY.pdf. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ndlegis.gov. N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-04.1. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- nd.gov/dfi/about-dfi/non-depository/frequently-asked-questions-non-depository. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- nd.gov. North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ndlegis.gov. N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 13-08. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: North Dakota. 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 North Dakota. 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 North Dakota? Contact the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.