Payday loans are legal in New Hampshire, but only on terms most payday lenders will not offer. The annual percentage rate (APR), the yearly cost of the loan including interest, cannot exceed 36%. The loan cannot exceed $500. You can have only one at a time, and it cannot be rolled over.

Because of that cap, the Center for Responsible Lending counts New Hampshire among the states with no triple-digit payday lending. In its 2017 report it estimated that the cap saves New Hampshire borrowers about $27.4 million a year in fees.

The rules are in RSA Chapter 399-A, "Regulation of Small Loans, Title Loans, and Payday Loans." The figures below come from the current statute text on the General Court site, checked as of September 2026.

The limits in one table

Rule New Hampshire limit Source
Maximum loan $500 per borrower at any time RSA 399-A:17, VI
APR cap 36% RSA 399-A:17, I
Term 7 to 30 days Compacom summary, August 2026
Rollovers or renewals Prohibited RSA 399-A:17, VII
Loans at once One RSA 399-A:17, VIII
Waiting period Borrower must certify no outstanding payday or title loan in the prior 60 days RSA 399-A:17, XIX

Our sources do not describe a statewide loan database or a required extended payment plan. We could not confirm that either exists.

Who may lend, including online

Every lender needs a license from the Bank Commissioner before it makes a single loan (RSA 399-A:2, I). This applies to online lenders that serve New Hampshire residents. The New Hampshire Banking Department issues these licenses through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). You can reach the department by phone at (603) 271-3561.

Watch for two warning signs. The first is a lender that claims tribal status puts it outside state law. The Banking Department has taken enforcement action against unlicensed lenders using tribal-affiliated structures, according to Compacom's August 2026 summary. The second is a separate "broker" fee added on top of the interest. The Center for Responsible Lending documented that tactic in other states. In its example, a $300 two-week loan carried $60 in broker fees, an effective APR of 557%.

The 2026 session did not change the payday limits. HB 1207, signed by the Governor, raises license application fees for lenders. It leaves the 36% cap alone.

The expensive loan the cap misses

Title loans are a separate category. A title loan is borrowed against your car. The statute allows interest of up to 25% per month (RSA 399-A:18). The original term is one month, and the loan can be renewed up to nine times. Each renewal requires paying down at least 10% of the original principal. So if a New Hampshire offer looks like payday money at a high price, check whether it is really a title loan.

Our sources do not cover credit union payday-alternative loans or state assistance programs in New Hampshire. Ask your own credit union what it offers. Rules in neighboring states differ, so compare the limits in Vermont if you live near the border.

If you are closing on a house soon

An underwriter reads your bank statements line by line. A deposit from a lender followed by a repayment debit shows up clearly, and you should expect a request for a letter of explanation. The letter says what the loan was, why you took it, and whether it is paid.

An open loan with a scheduled payment can be counted in your debt-to-income ratio, the share of your monthly income that goes to debt. Your lender's own rules decide exactly how it is treated.

The cleanest file is one where the loan is paid off before you apply, with proof of the payoff attached. If you are already in underwriting, tell your loan officer before the underwriter finds it on a statement.