Northeast · 36% APR cap · State statute guide
Payday loan laws in New Hampshire
Not in its classic form. New Hampshire holds small-dollar credit to a 36% APR ceiling, which makes two-week, fee-based payday pricing impossible to license. What is legal instead is an installment-style loan structured under that cap.
Simultaneous loans & database. $500 principal maximum per borrower at any one time (RSA 399-A:17).
Rollovers & renewals. Rollovers are prohibited; borrowers who cannot repay may request an extended payment plan.
Are payday loans legal in New Hampshire?
Not in its classic form. New Hampshire holds small-dollar credit to a 36% APR ceiling, which makes two-week, fee-based payday pricing impossible to license. What is legal instead is an installment-style loan structured under that cap.
The ceiling is a rate cap, not an outright ban on small-dollar credit — lenders may still offer installment products inside it under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 399-A:1 et seq.. What cannot be licensed is two-week, fee-doubled payday pricing.
How much a payday loan can cost in New Hampshire
The statutory ceiling is 36% APR Cap. A two-week $15-per-$100 fee equals about 391% APR, which is why the APR column looks the way it does even in “cheap” states.
Cost is capped, not quoted: a lender may charge less than the ceiling, never more. Compare total repaid, not the headline note rate.
Loan terms, rollovers and the one-loan rule
The statutory term is N/A. On renewals: forbidden. Rollovers are prohibited; borrowers who cannot repay may request an extended payment plan. $500 principal maximum per borrower at any one time (RSA 399-A:17). Where a statewide database exists, it is what makes these limits enforceable in real time — the lender queries it before every loan.
Online payday loans in New Hampshire
The 36% ceiling applies to online lenders exactly as it does to storefronts. Licensed online installment lenders may operate, but any internet offer of two-week, high-fee payday credit to a New Hampshire resident is unlicensed and illegal.
Verify the license before you sign at www.nh.gov — search the lender’s exact legal name. If it is not licensed, the loan is being made illegally and the regulator’s complaint desk is the right destination.
Who regulates payday lending in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Banking Department licenses lenders, publishes the fee schedule and takes complaints from borrowers.
- Keep the loan agreement, every fee disclosure and your payment history.
- File a complaint with the New Hampshire Banking Department (www.nh.gov) — describe the charge or practice and attach the documents.
- If the lender turns out to be unlicensed or the complaint stalls, escalate to the New Hampshire Attorney General and the CFPB complaint portal.
Your rights as a borrower in New Hampshire
- Right of rescission. N/A — return the proceeds and walk away at no cost.
- Full disclosure. The lender must state the APR and the total of payments before you sign; a missing disclosure is itself a violation.
- No criminal exposure for default. An unpaid loan is a civil debt — arrest threats are an illegal collection tactic.
- Payment-plan right. In nearly every licensing state you can demand an extended payment plan instead of a rollover — ask for it in writing.
Legal alternatives in New Hampshire
installment loans priced under the state’s 36% ceiling, federal credit-union payday-alternative loans (PALs), employer salary advances and local assistance programs.
Last verified September 6, 2026 · Statute: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 399-A:1 et seq. · Source: New Hampshire Banking Department · Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator.
Questions about New Hampshire payday loan laws
What is the maximum payday loan amount in New Hampshire?
No fixed dollar cap. Exceeding the statutory maximum is a violation a licensed lender cannot legally make.
What is the highest fee or APR a payday lender can charge in New Hampshire?
36% APR Cap. A lender charging beyond the cap is operating illegally.
Can I have two payday loans at once in New Hampshire?
$500 principal maximum per borrower at any one time (RSA 399-A:17).
How many times can I roll over a payday loan in New Hampshire?
Rollovers are prohibited; borrowers who cannot repay may request an extended payment plan.
Can a payday lender have me arrested in New Hampshire if I default?
No. Not repaying a loan is a civil matter, not a criminal one — a lender in New Hampshire can sue in court, but it cannot have you criminally charged for a bounced or post-dated check that wasn't backed by funds. Threats of arrest or criminal prosecution are an illegal collection tactic: document them and report the lender.
Where do I report an illegal payday lender in New Hampshire?
To the New Hampshire Banking Department (www.nh.gov). Bring the loan agreement, every fee disclosure and your payment history. If the lender turns out to be unlicensed, also file with the New Hampshire Attorney General and the CFPB's complaint portal.