Oregon maximum interest rate is the answer to “maximum interest rate allowed by law in Oregon”. This guide gives the Oregon figures in a dated table, explains in plain words what they mean, walks through the steps, and points to the official forms and free help.
The Oregon maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Oregon sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Oregon maximum interest rate at a Glance
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 9% per year unless otherwise agreed |
| Statute | ORS 82.010 |
In This Oregon maximum interest rate Guide:
What the Oregon Maximum Interest Rate Means
Usury means charging more interest than state law allows. Oregon has two separate rules. The legal rate is a default that only applies when a loan or debt has no agreed rate.
The contract cap is the highest rate a lender may agree to charge on loans of $50,000 or less: either 12% per year or five percentage points above the Federal Reserve 90-day commercial paper discount rate, whichever is higher (ORS 82.010(3)).
The Oregon maximum interest rate Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 9% per year unless otherwise agreedcompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | ORS 82.010compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Oregon maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Oregon sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Who the Oregon Maximum Interest Rate Applies To
The 12% cap covers business, agricultural and other loans of $50,000 or less made by lenders that no exemption covers, such as private individuals and unlicensed lenders. It does not cover banks, credit unions, trust companies, licensed consumer finance lenders or licensed pawnbrokers (ORS 82.025(1)), HUD-approved mortgage lenders, or loans secured by a first lien on real property.
Licensed consumer finance lenders have their own limit under ORS 725.340(1): either 36% or 30 percentage points above the Federal Reserve primary credit rate, whichever is higher. Payday and title loans are limited to 36% annual interest plus a one-time origination fee of 10% of the loan, up to $30.
Credit Cards and the Oregon Maximum Interest Rate
Banks and credit unions are exempt from the Oregon contract cap (ORS 82.025). Federal law also lets a national bank charge the rate its home state allows, no matter where the cardholder lives. So a credit card rate above 12% is usually legal in Oregon. Confirm the issuer and its home state in the cardholder agreement.
What Happens When a Lender Breaks the Oregon Maximum Interest Rate
Under ORS 82.010(4), a lender that charges or collects more than the cap loses the right to collect or receive any interest on that loan, and the borrower generally owes only the principal borrowed. ORS 82.010 itself does not set a criminal usury threshold.
For unlicensed consumer, payday or title lending, the Division of Financial Regulation can order the lender to stop and can impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation under ORS 725.910.
How to Check a Loan Against the Oregon Maximum Interest Rate
1) Find the APR or interest rate in the loan papers or the Truth in Lending disclosure. 2) Find out who the lender is (bank, credit union, licensed lender or private party) and check the license with the Division of Financial Regulation. 3) Check whether the loan is $50,000 or less and whether a first lien on real property secures it.
4) Compare the rate with the limit for that type of lender. Confirm with the statute, the court clerk or an attorney.
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Where to Report a Loan Above the Oregon Maximum Interest Rate
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, licenses consumer finance, payday and title lenders and takes complaints (toll-free 866-814-9710). Complaints about banks and other federally supervised lenders can also go to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Common Mistakes With Oregon maximum interest rate
The most common mistake is missing a deadline: court and creditor deadlines run whether or not you have read the papers, and a missed one usually cannot be undone. The second is relying on an old article or a friend’s experience in another state — the rules on this page differ from state to state and change often, which is why every figure here is dated.
The third is not keeping copies: every letter, form, receipt and bank statement may matter later, so keep them together and note the date you received each one.
Free Help With Oregon maximum interest rate in Oregon
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Oregon court self-help center explains the forms and the steps, and court clerks can tell you where and how to file, although they cannot give legal advice.
Legal aid organizations represent many people at no cost when income is limited, and the Oregon bar’s lawyer referral service can connect you with a lawyer for a low-cost first consultation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about lenders, banks and debt collectors nationwide.
How We Verify the Oregon maximum interest rate Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Oregon statute or an official compilation of it, and each one carries the month we last checked it. Our writers do not change those figures; they explain them. When the law changes, the figure is updated and the date moves.
If something on this page no longer matches the statute, the statute controls — and we want to hear about it.
Payday and title loans in Oregon must run at least 31 days and no more than 60 days, with no more than two renewals (ORS chapter 725A). Every payday or title lender, including online lenders, must hold an Oregon license.
A recent Oregon law that applies the 36% cap to loans from state-chartered banks based outside Oregon took effect June 5, 2026, and trade groups have challenged it in federal court. Confirm its current status with the Division of Financial Regulation.
Next rung: the Oregon payday loan page covers the short-term loans that have their own caps.
Oregon — the bottom line
- Oregon maximum interest rate rules set two numbers — the legal rate and the written-contract cap — both in the table above.
- Many lenders sit outside the Oregon maximum interest rate cap by license or charter, so check which rule covers your loan.
- If a loan breaks the Oregon maximum interest rate rules, keep the agreement and report it to the state regulator.
Oregon Maximum Interest Rate FAQ
What is the maximum interest rate allowed by law in Oregon?
Without an agreement: 9% per year unless otherwise agreed.
Official Oregon Sources & Resources
- Statute and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors 50-state usury survey (verified by each state regulator) — maximum legal interest rate: https://www.csbs.org/50-state-survey-consumer-finance-laws
- Statute and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors 50-state usury survey (verified by each state regulator) — maximum legal interest rate: https://facts.csbs.org/consumer-finance-law/dev
- Oregon statute / opinion: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors082.html
- Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DCBS): Payday and Title Loans: https://dfr.oregon.gov/financial/loans/personal/payday
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
This Oregon maximum interest rate guide was last verified against official Oregon sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
More Oregon Money Rights Guides
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bonus Bank Daily is an independent educational resource — not a law firm, not a bank, not a debt collector and not a government agency. Judgment, levy, interest-rate and debt rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it.
Confirm the current rule with the statute, the court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state before you act.