Missouri maximum interest rate is the answer to “maximum interest rate allowed by law in Missouri”. This guide gives the Missouri 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 Missouri maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Missouri sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Missouri maximum interest rate at a Glance
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 9% per year absent an agreement |
| Maximum rate in a written contract | 10% per year in writing, or the published market rate if higher |
| Statute | RSMo 408.020, 408.030 |
In This Missouri maximum interest rate Guide:
What the Missouri Maximum Interest Rate Means
Usury means charging more interest than Missouri law allows. The state uses two separate figures. The legal rate is a default that applies only when the parties never agreed on a rate, for example on an overdue bill. The contract cap is the most a lender may charge under a written agreement, and it can rise when the state’s published market rate is higher.
The Missouri maximum interest rate Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 9% per year absent an agreementcompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Maximum rate in a written contract | 10% per year in writing, or the published market rate if highercompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | RSMo 408.020, 408.030compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Missouri maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Missouri sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Who the Missouri Maximum Interest Rate Applies To
The general cap applies mostly to ordinary loans between private parties and to lenders who are not licensed. Banks chartered in other states and national banks can usually charge the rate their home state allows.
Licensed consumer installment and small-loan lenders operate under separate licensing sections (RSMo 408.100 and 408.510), and a Missouri appeals court has said these sections set no rate limit, so these lenders may charge the rate the parties agree to. Payday-type small loans are an exception: total interest and fees are capped at 75% of the original principal.
Under RSMo 408.035, business loans, most non-residential real estate loans and certain loans of $5,000 or more secured by stocks or bonds may carry any rate agreed in writing.
Credit Cards and the Missouri Maximum Interest Rate
Federal law lets a national bank charge the interest rate allowed in the state where it is based, and then “export” that rate to cardholders in every state. Many card issuers are based in states with high or no caps, so a card rate above the Missouri cap is usually legal. Confirm the issuer’s home state in your cardholder agreement.
What Happens When a Lender Breaks the Missouri Maximum Interest Rate
When a loan breaks the cap, the borrower may be able to recover the excess interest or more, depending on the statute, and charging above a criminal threshold can be a crime.
How to Check a Loan Against the Missouri Maximum Interest Rate
1) Find the interest rate or APR in your loan agreement or Truth in Lending disclosure. 2) If no rate is listed, divide the total yearly interest and finance charges by the amount borrowed. 3) Check what kind of lender made the loan: a bank, a licensed lender or a private party. Licensed lenders and out-of-state banks follow different rules. 4) Compare your rate with the Missouri cap.
If the cap may be the published market rate, check the Division of Finance’s quarterly bulletin for the quarter the loan was made (for example, 7.64% for January to March 2026). 5) Confirm with the statute, the court clerk or an attorney.
Where to Report a Loan Above the Missouri Maximum Interest Rate
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer installment, small-loan and payday lenders and takes complaints about them. You may also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
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Common Mistakes With Missouri 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 Missouri maximum interest rate in Missouri
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri maximum interest rate Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Missouri 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.
The Missouri Director of Finance publishes a new market rate every quarter, so the highest rate allowed in a written contract can depend on the quarter in which the loan was made. Payday and small loans have their own limit: total interest and fees may not exceed 75% of the original principal over the life of the loan.
Next rung: the Missouri payday loan page covers the short-term loans that have their own caps.
Missouri — the bottom line
- Missouri 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 Missouri maximum interest rate cap by license or charter, so check which rule covers your loan.
- If a loan breaks the Missouri maximum interest rate rules, keep the agreement and report it to the state regulator.
Missouri Maximum Interest Rate FAQ
What is the maximum interest rate allowed by law in Missouri?
Without an agreement: 9% per year absent an agreement. In a written contract: 10% per year in writing, or the published market rate if higher.
Official Missouri 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
- Missouri statute / opinion: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=408.030
- Missouri Division of Finance, Consumer Credit Section (Consumer Installment Lenders page): https://finance.mo.gov/consumercredit/installlenders.php
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
This Missouri maximum interest rate guide was last verified against official Missouri sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
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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.