Subject to Arizona’s Consumer Lenders Act, licensed financiers are required to follow a tiered interest rate structure for all installment loans:
For loans ≤ of $3,000, the maximum APR is 36%.
For loans > $3,000, the lender can charge 36% on the first $3,000 and 24% on anything above.
Repayment terms are also regulated:
For loans < $1,000, the maximum repayment term is 24 months and 15 days.
For loans $1,001 to $2,500, the maximum repayment term is 36 months and 15 days.
For loans from $2,501 to $4,000, the maximum repayment term is 48 months and 15 days.
For loans $4,001 to $6,000, the maximum repayment term is 60 months and 15 days.
For loans > $6,000, repayment terms are determined by the borrower and the issuer.
Loan origination fees are capped at 5%, and lenders cannot charge another origination fee if you refinance your loan. Late payment fees are also capped at 5% and can only be charged once the loan is seven days past due.
To operate legally in the state, lenders must be licensed by Arizona’s Department of Financial Institutions. Each application incurs a non-refundable fee of $1,500, plus an additional $500 fee for each branch the lender operates.
After the original legislation expired in 2010, the law was not reenacted. As a result, lenders are required to follow the Consumer Lenders Act referenced above and cap their APRs at 36%.
Payday Loan Laws in Arizona by Country of January 2025
ElitePersonalFinance analysis of payday loan laws by countries in the State of Arizona.
City:
Amount Allowed:
APR Allowed:
Status:
Phoenix
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Tucson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Mesa
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Chandler
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Scottsdale
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Glendale
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Gilbert
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Tempe
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Peoria
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Surprise
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Yuma
N/A
36%
Prohibited
San Tan Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Avondale
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Goodyear
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Flagstaff
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Casas Adobes
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Buckeye
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Casa Grande
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Lake Havasu City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Catalina Foothills
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Maricopa
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Oro Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Marana
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sierra Vista
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Prescott Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Prescott
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Bullhead City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Apache Junction
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sun City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Queen Creek
N/A
36%
Prohibited
El Mirage
N/A
36%
Prohibited
San Luis
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Drexel Heights
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Fortuna Foothills
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Kingman
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sahuarita
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Florence
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sun City West
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Fountain Hills
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Anthem
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Green Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Nogales
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Rio Rico
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Eloy
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Douglas
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sierra Vista Southeast
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Somerton
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Tanque Verde
N/A
36%
Prohibited
New River
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Payson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Flowing Wells
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Fort Mohave
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sun Lakes
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Paradise Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
New Kingman-Butler
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Coolidge
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Verde Village
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Vail
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Valencia West
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Cottonwood city
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Arizona City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Tucson Estates
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Chino Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Camp Verde
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Gold Canyon
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Show Low
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Saddlebrooke
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Sedona
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Safford
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Winslow
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Picture Rocks
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Golden Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Tuba City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Corona de Tucson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Catalina
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Page
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Globe
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Tolleson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Wickenburg
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Youngtown
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Guadalupe
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Village of Oak Creek (Big Park)
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Avra Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Litchfield Park
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Snowflake
N/A
36%
Prohibited
South Tucson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Cave Creek
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Rincon Valley
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Chinle
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Doney Park
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Williamson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Bisbee
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Lake Montezuma
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Three Points
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Holbrook
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Citrus Park
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Thatcher
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Summit
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Kayenta
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Benson
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Eagar
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Colorado City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Paulden
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Pinetop-Lakeside
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Clarkdale
N/A
36%
Prohibited
San Carlos
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Fort Defiance
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Whiteriver
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Taylor
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Dewey-Humboldt
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Oracle
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Red Rock
N/A
36%
Prohibited
San Manuel
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Carefree
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Avenue B and C
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Quartzsite
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Clifton
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Lake of the Woods
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Willcox
N/A
36%
Prohibited
St. Johns
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Swift Trail Junction
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Ajo
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Cornville
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Black Canyon City
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Williams
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Parker
N/A
36%
Prohibited
Superior
N/A
36%
Prohibited
What if I Don’t Qualify for a Loan?
If you’ve exhausted all of your resources and still can’t obtain a loan, today’s digital economy offers ways to supplement your income and get you through the rough patch. You can moonlight as an Uber driver, spend an afternoon taking paid surveys, or find online work through one of several freelancing websites. For tips on the best free and easy ways to make money, see our detailed guide.
Car Title Loans in Arizona of January 2025
Car title loans are legal in Arizona and are regulated by both state and federal laws. Within Arizona statutes, title lenders are referred to as “secondary motor finance companies.”
For loans $500 or less, finance rates cannot exceed 17% per month.
For loans > $500 but ≤ $2,000, finance rates cannot exceed 15% per month.
For loans > $2,000 but ≤ $5,000, finance rates cannot exceed 13% per month.
For loans > $5,000, finance rates cannot exceed 10% per month.
If you default on your loan, the lender has the right to seize your car. They are not required to contact you before the repossession occurs, but they need a court order. Without it, you can refuse to surrender the vehicle.
If the sale of your car earns more money than your loan amount – plus any additional fees — the surplus is returned to you. But, if the sale doesn’t yield enough to cover the loan balance plus any additional fees, you can be billed for the remaining amount. As well, the lender needs to notify you after a sale has occurred.
In case you’re confused by the terminology, auto loans are slightly different than car title loans. Car title loans allow you to borrow against an existing car you already own. You use the car as collateral, and if you fail to repay the proceeds, the lender can seize your car.
With auto loans, the proceeds are used to finance purchasing a new or used vehicle that you don’t own. Loans are still secured against the vehicle, and the lender will repossess the vehicle if you fail to pay. But, because you didn’t own the car originally, it’s not a car title loan.
LendingTree
LendingTree offers four financing options that vary in size and APR depending on whether you’re purchasing a new or used car:
New Car Purchases:
36 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $24,000, and APRs are as low as 3.99%.
48 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $25,000, and APRs are as low as 3.69%.
60 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $25,000, and APRs are as low as 3.69%.
72 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $50,000, and APRs are as low as 3.70%.
Used Car Purchases:
36 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $10,000, and APRs are as low as 3.70%.
48 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $33,000, and APRs are as low as 3.19%.
60 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $33,000, and APRs are as low as 3.19%.
72 Month Refinance: You can borrow upwards of $120,000, and APRs are as low as 3.70%.
Alternative Payday Loans in Arizona of January 2025
If you have bad credit and don’t qualify for a personal loan, alternative payday loans are your next best option. APRs range from 35.99% to roughly 200%, and while rates are high, they’re still much less than traditional payday loans.
In Arizona, OppLoans is a reputable alternative lender.
The company is licensed in the state, and its APRs range from 59% to 160%. Financing is offered through FinWise Bank, which is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). FinWise approves, underwrites, and provides funding for all loans granted in Arizona, while OppLoans services the loans.
On its website, OppLoans cites examples in Arizona of loans that range from $500 to $4,000. APRs are estimated at 160%, while repayment terms range from 9 to 18 months.
For more information on how alternative lenders can help, see our detailed guide.
Best Auto Loans for Bad Credit in Arizona of January 2025
A Desert Financial Signature Loan allows you to borrow anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 and offers APRs that range from 12.25% to 18%. Repayment terms reach upwards of 48 months, and loans are unsecured, which means you never need any collateral.
As well, there are no application fees, and Signature Loans have no prepayment penalties.
Desert Financial operates 51 branches across Arizona, located in Apache Junction, Buckeye, Glendale, Phoenix, etc.
Arizona Central Credit Union
At Arizona Central, you have three loan options to choose from:
A You-Name-It Personal Loan allows you to borrow anywhere from $500 to $15,000. APRs range from 7.99% to 18%, and repayment terms extend up to 36 months. There are also no application or processing fees.
While the amount you can borrow with a Signature Loan varies, APRs range from 10.40% to 18%, and repayment terms can extend up to 60 months. Similarly, there are no application or processing fees.
A Share-Secured Loan allows you to borrow up to 100% of your collateral deposit, and no credit check is required. APRs are as low as the interest rate you earn on your collateral plus 4%.
Arizona Central operates 9 branches across Arizona, located in Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler, Tucson, etc.
All Licensed Credit Unions in Arizona of January 2025
Name:
City:
Size (Millions):
Members:
DESERT SCHOOLS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$2,903.32
326401
ARIZONA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$1,269.69
171825
ARIZONA STATE CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$1,295.19
124216
VANTAGE WEST CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$1,115.69
111662
HUGHES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$559.29
62811
TRUWEST CREDIT UNION
Scottsdale
$768.82
56664
ARIZONA CENTRAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$395.54
54426
PIMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$357.49
51282
CREDIT UNION WEST
Glendale
$450.07
48087
TUCSON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$318.05
45786
FIRST CREDIT UNION
Chandler
$397.44
43819
A. E. A. FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Yuma
$230.58
41950
SUNWEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$247.87
37047
AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CREDIT UNION
Sierra Vista
$156.59
20252
FIRST AMERICAN CREDIT UNION
Casa Grande
$84.20
19381
AERO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Glendale
$193.33
18586
TEMPE SCHOOLS CREDIT UNION
Tempe
$129.54
18516
CANYON STATE CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$128.93
18218
PINAL COUNTY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Casa Grande
$95.11
17898
ALTIER CREDIT UNION
Tempe
$163.57
17460
DEER VALLEY CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$205.59
16606
TUCSON OLD PUEBLO CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$133.53
13020
BANNER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$56.94
10593
PYRAMID FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$81.67
8771
COCONINO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Flagstaff
$49.33
8103
MARISOL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$29.57
7283
SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Douglas
$25.55
5553
MOHAVE COMMUNITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Kingman
$22.60
5395
BASHAS’ ASSOCIATES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tempe
$16.13
5081
COCHISE CREDIT UNION
Willcox
$23.70
4075
TUCSON TELCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$29.47
3713
ALHAMBRA CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$20.01
3655
TUCSON HEALTHCARE AFFILIATES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION (THAFCU)
Tucson
$15.56
3396
U-HAUL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$4.36
2664
SOUTHWEST HEALTH CARE CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$15.88
2355
TOMBSTONE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tombstone
$10.67
2343
DESERT MEDICAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION (DMFCU)
Scottsdale
$9.74
2318
SNOWFLAKE MILLS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Snowflake
$11.85
2215
WINSLOW SANTA FE CREDIT UNION
Winslow
$11.07
1961
SAN TAN CREDIT UNION
Chandler
$9.36
1749
RAY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Kearny
$5.19
1486
EM FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Mesa
$5.84
1384
PRESCOTT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Prescott
$5.97
1327
SHAMROCK FOODS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phoenix
$4.31
1307
WINSLOW SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Winslow
$4.03
543
SOUTHERN ARIZONA COMMUNICATIONS CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$1.15
400
APC EMPLOYEES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Tucson
$1.26
232
JACL CREDIT UNION
Glendale
$0.84
190
Student Loans in Arizona of January 2025
Federal student loans – obtained through the U.S. Department of education – have various benefits that aren’t offered with private student loans. You pay zero interest until you graduate, you can apply for debt forgiveness, and you are allowed to repay your loan as a percentage of your income. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide.
Within the state of Arizona, you also have access to grants and subsidy programs that can help make college more affordable.
Providing financial assistance to those in need, The AzLEAP program grants low-income undergraduate students in Arizona. The maximum grant is $2,500 per year, but on average, students receive around $1,000.
To qualify:
You must be a resident of Arizona.
You must take half-time classes or more.
You must demonstrate substantial financial need.
You must maintain academic minimums.
37 schools participate in the program, including institutions like the University of Phoenix, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loans in Arizona of January 2025
FHA loans offer low and middle-income borrowers the ability to purchase a home. Your down payment is usually 3.5%, which means you can borrow roughly 96.5% of the total cost. In Arizona, though, you need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify; but if your credit score is less than 620, you may qualify with a higher down payment.
The property also needs to be your primary residence. FHA loans are not permitted for rental or investment properties.
In Arizona, FHA loan limits vary depending on the size of the property and residence area.
With only a small number of eligible districts, the data is pretty uniform. The lowest FHA loan amount is $314,827 in 14 counties across Arizona, while the highest is $696,650 in Coconino County.
Business Loans in Arizona of January 2025
If you’re looking for a business loan in Arizona, the lenders below offer convenient online support and have extremely competitive APRs.
However, if you would rather deal with a local lender in Arizona, here are a couple of highly reputable names:
Mountain America Credit Union
While APRs vary depending on your cash flow and credit score, Mountain America offers small business loans and equipment financing.
Mountain America SBA Loans are structured as a credit line, and you can borrow anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000. The funds can be used to purchase supplies, settle accounts payable, or fulfill advertising expenses. For the first two years, payments are interest-only. Then you pay principal and interest for the next five years. If approved, variable APRs usually range from 6% to 6.5% above the prime rate. There is also a 1% foreign transaction fee.
Their Business Equipment Loans range from $10,000 to several million, and repayment terms can reach upwards of 10 years. Loans are applicable for all equipment types. Whether computers, refrigerators, tractors, or forklifts, Mountain America has you covered.
The lender operates 4 branches across Arizona, located in Phoenix, Goodyear, Mesa, and Gilbert.
Commerce Bank of Arizona
Commerce Bank’s Business Line of Credit allows you to borrow upwards of $500,000, and repayment terms are customized to your business. You only pay interest on the funds you use, and as you repay the principal, more funds become available.
Its Equipment Loans allow you to borrow up to 90% of the purchase price. Loans are secured against the equipment, and repayment terms and APRs vary by the borrower.
Commerce Bank operates 4 branches across Arizona, with locations in Tucson, Green Valley, and Scottsdale.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a reliable loan in Arizona, the state has you covered from all angles. It scores major points for its ban on payday loans – which are extremely predatory – and capping its APRs at 36% for all installment loans. The only dark spot is its stance on car title loans. The product is legal in Arizona, and lenders are allowed to charge astronomical interest rates. This can trap borrowers in a cycle of debt. But, unlike some U.S. states, Arizona does require that any surplus proceeds earned by the lender after seizing and selling a delinquent borrower’s car must be returned to them. It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. To obtain the cheapest loan, always start your search with personal loans. If you’re denied, then move on to alternative loans. In all circumstances, please avoid payday loans. They’re extremely expensive and cause more harm than good.