Personal loans in Billings, MT

If you are considering a personal loan in Billings, Montana, begin with the monthly payment you can carry and work backward. At about 120,864 residents, Billings is bigger than roughly 99% of the places in Montana. The 2020 count to the 2023 estimate shows about 3.2% growth. To lend to consumers in Montana, a company must hold a state licence, and each sourced row below names the regulator behind it. Judge offers on total cost, not on how quickly the money arrives. As the largest city in Montana, Billings has no bigger in-state peer to benchmark against.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Borrowing in Billings: the local picture

What follows is Billings's place in the Census record, alongside the Montana rules that govern a personal loan made here.

What Montana law requires in Billings

Read the table as a lender's compliance picture for Billings: the rule, the sourced figure, the publisher and the date.

RuleDetailSource
Payday lending statusLegal; deferred deposit lenders must be licensed; fee capped at 36% per annum
Source says: "A licensee may not charge a fee for making or carrying each deferred deposit loan authorized by this part that exceeds 36% per annum"
Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated)
as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensingConsumer loan license required under the Montana Consumer Loan Act (32-5-101); licensing through NMLS
Source says: "A consumer loan license is needed to engage in business as defined in the Montana Consumer Loan Act"
Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulatorMontana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (BFID), Department of Administration
Source says: "The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (Division) does all of its licensing through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)."
Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions
as of 2026-09-16
Deferred deposit loan license requirement (MCA 31-1-705)A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department
Source says: "A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department."
Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated)
as of 2026-09-16
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap)Greater of 15% or prime rate + 6 percentage points per year (written agreement); regulated lenders exempt
Source says: "Parties may agree in writing to the payment of any rate of interest that does not exceed the greater of 15%"
Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated)
as of 2026-09-16

What a Billings personal loan looks like

Because a personal loan payment is fixed, the total cost is knowable in advance — the main difference from a credit card, where the balance revolves. A lender who will not put the terms in writing is a reason to walk away. Borrowing is a decision to make calmly, not one to rush.

A pre-application checklist for Billings

A sensible order of operations for a loan in Billings:

  1. Order your free credit reports and dispute anything inaccurate — it is the cheapest way to move the rate you are offered.
  2. Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
  3. Pre-qualify with three or more lenders, then compare the APR rather than the interest rate.
  4. Confirm the lender holds a Montana licence by checking the regulator named above.
  5. Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing.

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Common questions

What are my options in Billings if my credit is poor?
Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Billings is the same as anywhere in Montana.
What loan size can I expect in Billings?
Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Billings?
For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.
Does comparing loans in Billings cost me credit score points?
Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

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