What is the maximum interest rate allowed by law in Washington state?

Asked by: Prof. Leilani Kovacek  |  Last update: March 25, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (43 votes)

The usury law applies to consumer loans that are not related to a credit card debt, a retail installment contract or a consumer lease. According to RCW 19.52. 020(1) , a lender may, if agreed in writing between the lender and borrower, charge an interest rate at a maximum rate of 12% per year.

What is the legal interest rate in Washington?

Brief Summary of Washington Interest Rate Laws

In other words, state interest rate limits seldom apply to most consumer credit agreements. So without a contract (which exempts these limits), the maximum rate of interest allowed in Washington is 12 percent.

What is the highest interest rate you can legally charge?

There's no federal regulation on the maximum interest rate that your issuer can charge you, though each state has its own approach to limiting interest rates.

Is a 25% interest rate legal?

In California, absent an exception which we discuss in depth below, the maximum allowable interest rate for consumer loans is 10% per year. For non-consumer loans, the interest rate can bear the maximum of whichever is greater between either: i) 10% per annum; or ii) the “federal discount rate” plus 5%.

What is the interest rate cap law?

Interest rates are typically regulated at the state level, but in some circumstances, federal law caps the interest a financial institution can charge. Usury is a term that can refer to charging perceived unreasonably high interest rates or rates in excess of legal limits in cases where such limits are in place.

Washington Promissory Note - Interest Rates - Signing Requirements - EXPLAINED

27 related questions found

What is the interest rate cap?

A cap is an interest rate limit on a variable rate credit product. It is the highest possible rate a borrower may have to pay and also the highest rate a creditor can earn. Interest rate cap terms will be outlined in a lending contract or investment prospectus.

What is the cap rate of lending?

The cap rate formula

Calculated by dividing a property's net operating income by its asset value, the cap rate is an assessment of the yield of a property over one year. For example, a property worth $14 million generating $600,000 of NOI would have a cap rate of 4.3%.

What is an illegal interest rate?

A usury interest rate is an interest rate deemed to be illegally high. To discourage predatory lending and promote economic activity, states may enact laws that set a ceiling on the interest rate that can be charged for certain types of debt. Interest rates above this ceiling are considered usury and are illegal.

What is the permissible interest rate?

The Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (or MPIR) is a government-set interest rate that is used by residential aged care facilities to calculate a daily accommodation payment based on room price.

What is the legal lending limit 25?

A legal lending limit is the most a bank or thrift can lend to a single borrower. The legal limit for national banks is 15% of the bank's capital. If the loan is secured by readily marketable securities, the limit is raised by 10 percentage points, bringing the total to 25%.

What is the usury law in Washington state?

The usury law applies to consumer loans that are not related to a credit card debt, a retail installment contract or a consumer lease. According to RCW 19.52. 020(1) , a lender may, if agreed in writing between the lender and borrower, charge an interest rate at a maximum rate of 12% per year.

What is an interest rate exceeding the legal maximum?

An interest rate that exceeds the legal rate of interest is classified as usury. There are usually stiff penalties for usury in most states, such as fines or even the forfeiture of principal and/or interest.

What type of law limits the interest rate?

Usury laws set a limit on how much interest can be charged on a variety of loans. Usury laws are enforced by individual states rather than on a federal level. Interest rate limitations can vary from one state to the next.

What is unlawful interest?

Usury laws govern the amount of interest that can be charged on a loan by a lender based in a certain area. In the U.S., each state sets its own usury laws and usurious rates. So a loan or line of credit is deemed unlawful if the interest rate on it exceeds the amount mandated by state law.

What is the highest interest rate on a loan by law?

Article 15 of the California Constitution addresses California's usury law. It sets a maximum interest rate of 10% per year that lenders can charge on loans. This law applies to all loans and forbearances of money, goods, or things in action.

Is there a limit to interest rates?

There is no federal law that sets maximum interest rates on all consumer loans; rather, rates are restricted at the state level. This means usury laws vary between states.

What is prohibition of excessive interest rates?

163 Money Lenders Ordinance ─ Section 24 Prohibition of excessive interest rates. 24. Any person (whether a money lender or not) who lends or offers to lend money at an effective rate of interest which exceeds 48 per cent per annum commits an offence.

What rate of interest is allowed?

If there is a deed and it mentions a rate of interest, he will be allowed to that interest rate. In all other cases, it is 6 % per annum.

What is a prohibited interest?

Prohibited Interest means an interest in a contract with the Government or a state-owned enterprise, the acquisition of which by a specified person in public life is prohibited by rules made undersection 22; Sample 1Sample 2.

Is it legal to charge 300 interest?

There is no federal law that sets maximum interest rates on all consumer loans; rather, rates are restricted at the state level. This means usury laws vary between states.

What is the maximum interest rate for an unsecured credit transaction?

Some banks and credit providers offer unsecured loans of up to R230 000 which must be paid back over a period of not more than 7 years. But the interest rate can be as high as 32% per year, which makes it difficult for many consumers to honour their contractual agreements.

Is there an interest rate cap?

An interest rate cap is a limit on how high an interest rate can rise on variable-rate debt. Interest rate caps can be instituted across all types of variable rate products. However, interest rate caps are commonly used in variable-rate mortgages and specifically adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans.

What is an acceptable cap rate?

Average cap rates range from 4% to 10%. Generally, the higher the cap rate, the higher the risk. A cap rate above 7% may be perceived as a riskier investment, whereas a cap rate below 5% may be seen as a safer bet.

What does grm mean?

The gross rent multiplier (GRM) is a screening metric used by investors to compare rental property opportunities in a given market.