Personalloaner

Arkansas lending rules

Personalloaner covers 500 Census places in Arkansas, which together hold an estimated 2,062,567 people. Licensed lenders set personal-loan terms here under Arkansas law, and the sourced rules below reach every borrower in the state.

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

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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.

Key rules for borrowers in Arkansas

RuleDetailSource
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011)
Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum".		 Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009)
as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008
Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down".		 Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division
as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing See the latest published figure
value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises.		 Arkansas State Bank Department
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulator Arkansas State Bank Department
Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas".		 Arkansas State Bank Department
as of 2026-09-16

Places we cover in Arkansas

The Census Bureau counts 500 places in Arkansas, and the largest are linked below.

Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

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

How high can interest rates legally go in Arkansas?
The answer turns on the product and on which statute applies to it. This page's table sets out Arkansas's usury cap and licensing rules, and each row carries its publisher and a link to the primary source.
What is Arkansas's position on payday lending?
Each state handles payday lending on its own: some permit it, some cap it, some prohibit it. The sourced row on this page gives Arkansas's current position.
How do I know a lender is licensed in Arkansas?
Consumer lenders generally need a licence issued by the state regulator identified on this page. Verify that licence with the regulator before you commit to anything.

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