Utah maximum interest rate is the answer to “maximum interest rate allowed by law in Utah”. This guide gives the Utah 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 Utah maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Utah sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Utah maximum interest rate at a Glance
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 10% per year when no rate is agreed |
| Maximum rate in a written contract | the parties to a written, verbal or implied contract may agree on any rate |
| Criminal usury threshold | knowingly charging an unlawful rate can be criminal usury |
| Statute | Utah Code 15-1-1 |
In This Utah maximum interest rate Guide:
What the Utah Maximum Interest Rate Means
Usury means charging more interest than the law allows. Utah has two separate rules. The legal rate is a fallback that applies only when a contract does not state a rate. The contract rule lets the parties set their own rate, so Utah has no general numeric ceiling on agreed interest. The criminal statute is aimed at lending at a rate higher than the law authorizes.
The Utah maximum interest rate Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 10% per year when no rate is agreedcompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Maximum rate in a written contract | the parties to a written, verbal or implied contract may agree on any ratecompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Criminal usury threshold | knowingly charging an unlawful rate can be criminal usurycompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | Utah Code 15-1-1compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Utah maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Utah sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Who the Utah Maximum Interest Rate Applies To
The freedom-of-contract rule in Utah Code 15-1-1 covers written, verbal and implied contracts, including loans, goods, services and forbearance. Banks chartered in other states can generally use their home state’s rate rules under federal law, whatever Utah’s rule is. Licensed consumer lenders, payday (deferred deposit) lenders and title lenders fall under the Utah Consumer Credit Code and Title 7.
That code generally lets the parties to a consumer credit agreement contract for finance charges and fees (Utah Code 70C-2-101). Credit cards are usually issued by national or out-of-state banks, so federal law governs their rates.
Credit Cards and the Utah Maximum Interest Rate
Most credit cards come from national banks or banks chartered in other states. Federal law lets those banks charge the interest rate allowed in the state where they are based, even to Utah residents. A card rate that looks high is usually legal for that reason. In most cases the card agreement and federal law decide the rate, not Utah’s statute.
What Happens When a Lender Breaks the Utah Maximum Interest Rate
Utah Code 15-1-1 itself sets no interest forfeiture, refund or civil penalty, because it lets the parties agree on a rate. The criminal usury statute, Utah Code 76-6-520, covers knowingly running or financing a lending business that charges more than the law authorizes, and classifies it as a third-degree felony. Separate remedies may apply when a licensed lender breaks the Consumer Credit Code or the payday and title lending rules.
Confirm these with the statute, the court clerk or an attorney.
How to Check a Loan Against the Utah Maximum Interest Rate
1) Find the interest rate or APR in the loan contract or Truth in Lending disclosure. 2) If no rate is stated, the statutory legal rate applies instead. 3) Check whether the lender is licensed and under which law (consumer lender, payday or title lender) using the DFI license lookup. 4) For credit cards, find the bank’s home state in the card agreement.
5) Confirm with the statute, the court clerk or an attorney.
Where to Report a Loan Above the Utah Maximum Interest Rate
The Utah Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders, payday lenders and title lenders. It takes signed written complaints by mail (PO Box 146800, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6800), fax (801-538-8894) or email ([email protected]), and can be reached by phone at 801-538-8830. Complaints can also be filed with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
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Common Mistakes With Utah 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 Utah maximum interest rate in Utah
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah maximum interest rate Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Utah 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.
Under Utah Code 15-1-4, a judgment on a lawful contract carries the interest rate the parties agreed to, and the judgment must state it. Other civil judgments carry the federal post-judgment rate as of January 1 of that year, plus 2%. That rate stays fixed for the life of the judgment, and deferred deposit (payday) loans have their own judgment-interest rules.
Next rung: the Utah payday loan page covers the short-term loans that have their own caps.
Utah — the bottom line
- Utah 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 Utah maximum interest rate cap by license or charter, so check which rule covers your loan.
- If a loan breaks the Utah maximum interest rate rules, keep the agreement and report it to the state regulator.
Utah Maximum Interest Rate FAQ
What is the maximum interest rate allowed by law in Utah?
Without an agreement: 10% per year when no rate is agreed. In a written contract: the parties to a written, verbal or implied contract may agree on any rate.
Is there a criminal usury law in Utah?
knowingly charging an unlawful rate can be criminal usury
Official Utah 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
- Utah statute / opinion: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15/Chapter1/15-1-S1.html
- Utah Department of Financial Institutions — File a Complaint: https://dfi.utah.gov/resources/helpful-links/file-a-complaint
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
This Utah maximum interest rate guide was last verified against official Utah sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
More Utah 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.