Personalloaner

Missouri lending rules

Personalloaner covers 937 Census places in Missouri, which together hold an estimated 4,119,349 people. Licensed lenders set personal-loan terms here under Missouri 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 Missouri

RuleDetailSource
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030)
Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract"		 Missouri Revisor of Statutes
as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500)
Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance"		 Missouri Revisor of Statutes
as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo)
Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies"		 Missouri Division of Finance
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulator Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance)
Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions"		 Missouri Division of Finance
as of 2026-09-16
Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140)
Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender"		 Missouri Revisor of Statutes
as of 2026-09-16

Places we cover in Missouri

The Census Bureau counts 937 places in Missouri, 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 Missouri?
The answer turns on the product and on which statute applies to it. This page's table sets out Missouri's usury cap and licensing rules, and each row carries its publisher and a link to the primary source.
What is Missouri'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 Missouri's current position.
How do I know a lender is licensed in Missouri?
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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