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Usury Laws in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, the rate in business transactions is 10% unless otherwise agreed in writing, and judgment interest is set yearly by the state treasurer (5.7% for 2026).

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Hampshire at a glance

Legal rate (no rate agreed)
10%
Applies to business transactions without a written rate; consumer credit transactions are excluded. Judgment interest is 5.7% for 2026.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Hampshire

What interest rate applies in New Hampshire when no rate was agreed?

Legal rate (no rate agreed) in New Hampshire: 10%. Applies to business transactions without a written rate; consumer credit transactions are excluded. Judgment interest is 5.7% for 2026.

Where do the New Hampshire usury laws come from?

The rules above come from N.H. Rev. Stat. 336:1. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

RSA 336:1 lets parties to business transactions agree in writing to a different rate. Judgment interest is the 26-week Treasury bill rate plus 2 points, set by the state treasurer each year.

What this means in practice

Put the interest rate in writing. Many usury statutes set one limit for written agreements and a different, often lower, rate when nothing was agreed in writing. A signed promissory note or loan agreement that states the rate, the payment schedule and what happens on late payment avoids most disputes.

Count every charge, not only the stated rate. Courts may treat fees, points, required extras or a discount taken from the amount lent as interest when deciding whether a loan is usurious. A loan with a modest rate and large fees can still cross the limit.

Check who the lender is and what the loan is for. Usury limits often do not apply, or apply differently, to banks, licensed consumer lenders, credit card issuers, larger loans and loans to businesses or corporations. A rule written for loans between individuals may not cover your situation, so read the statute and its exceptions.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.