What a loan can cost in New Hampshire
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above New Hampshire'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 New Hampshire
Free and low-cost help in New Hampshire, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
New Hampshire Banking Department licenses lenders in New Hampshire.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
banking.nh.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
211nh.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
nhla.org Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Help with a budget or a debt management plan.
nfcc.org 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
More New Hampshire resources appear here as we check each source.
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 New Hampshire
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in New Hampshire: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] | Allowed | 36% APR | Up to $10,000 | At least 6 months | Small Loan Lender license | N.H. RSA 399-A:16 |
| Title loans[1][3] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | Cap set in statute | Not set by statute | Up to 30 days | Title Loan Lender license | N.H. RSA 399-A:18; RSA 399-A:19 |
| Payday loans[1][3] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | 36% APR | Up to $500 | 7 days to 30 days | Payday Loan Lender license | 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.
Rate, fee and license rules in New Hampshire
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- "The annual percentage rate for small loans shall not exceed 36 percent" (RSA 399-A:16, I). One application fee (max $100/borrower/year) and one participation/membership fee (max $100/borrower/year) are excluded from the APR calculation. A loan with a contractual term of 6 months or longer at an APR not exceeding 36% (calculated under 399-A:16, I) is treated as a small/installment loan rather than a title or payday loan (RSA 399-A:16, VII).
- Fees
- Excluded from APR: one application fee up to $100/borrower/year and one participation/membership fee up to $100/borrower/year; actual filing/recording fees and reasonable repossession/foreclosure costs also permitted (RSA 399-A:15, XI).
- License
- Small Loan Lender license under RSA 399-A, issued by the New Hampshire Banking Department.
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Title loans may not "charge interest at higher than 25 percent per month" (RSA 399-A:18, I(f)), i.e., a maximum of 300% simple annualized nominal rate before considering fee-inclusive APR conventions; this is a monthly rate cap, not the 36% annual cap that applies to small and payday loans.
- Fees
- One dishonored-check fee per check permitted; actual pass-through costs (e.g., repossession) allowed (RSA 399-A:18, I(a)).
- License
- Title Loan Lender license under RSA 399-A, issued by the New Hampshire Banking Department.
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.
Rent and jobs in New Hampshire
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for New Hampshire borrowers
Check your options in New Hampshire
New Hampshire questions
Does New Hampshire law allow payday loans?
New Hampshire law allows payday loans. The cost limit is 36% APR. Source: N.H. RSA 399-A:17.
What is the most a lender can charge in New Hampshire?
By loan type in New Hampshire: Installment and personal loans: 36% APR. Title loans: Cap set in statute. Payday loans: 36% APR.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in New Hampshire?
You can file a complaint with New Hampshire Banking Department, and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in New Hampshire on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Banking Department licenses lenders in New Hampshire. Use the license link under Resources in New Hampshire on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in New Hampshire?
Yes. Resources in New Hampshire on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid and nonprofit credit counseling.
Nearby states
- VermontAllowed 24% APR (top tier)
- MassachusettsAllowed 23% APR
- Rhode IslandAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
- ConnecticutAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
- MaineAllowed 30% APR (top tier)
Sources
- gc.nh.gov. N.H. RSA 399-A:17. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- gc.nh.gov. N.H. RSA 399-A:16. 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. 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.
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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.