France usury and maximum lending rates
France usury rates and maximum legal lending rates by loan category from the Banque de France.
| Indicator | Q3-2026 | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | Q4-2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usury thresholds (legal maximum rates)16 | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer loans to individuals up to EUR 3,000 | 23.53 | 23.52 | 23.56 | 23.49 | 23.39 | 23.24 | 22.93 | 22.71 | 22.49 | 22.32 | 22 | 21.16 | ||
| Consumer loans to individuals of EUR 3,000 to 6,000 | 15.67 | 15.73 | 15.87 | 15.71 | 15.79 | 15.67 | 15.16 | 14.59 | 13.87 | 13.6 | 12.93 | 10.13 | ||
| Consumer loans to individuals over EUR 6,000 | 8.56 | 8.61 | 8.67 | 8.73 | 8.69 | 8.63 | 8.51 | 8.29 | 8 | 7.75 | 7.35 | 5.33 | ||
| Fixed-rate home loans to individuals, under 10 years | 4.07 | 4 | 4.12 | 4.23 | 4.32 | 4.51 | 4.61 | 4.63 | 4.6 | 4.56 | 4.53 | 3.03 | ||
| Fixed-rate home loans to individuals, 10 to under 20 years | 4.57 | 4.48 | 4.59 | 4.71 | 5.03 | 5.45 | 5.8 | 6.03 | 6.13 | 6.13 | 6.01 | 3.03 | ||
| Fixed-rate home loans to individuals, 20 years and more | 5.29 | 5.19 | 5.13 | 5.09 | 5.08 | 5.31 | 5.67 | 5.85 | 6.16 | 6.39 | 6.29 | 3.05 | ||
| Variable-rate home loans to individuals | 5.28 | 5 | 4.99 | 5.25 | 5.37 | 5.64 | 5.87 | 5.99 | 5.97 | 5.85 | 5.63 | 2.92 | ||
| Bridging loans to individuals | 6.39 | 6.2 | 6.15 | 6.21 | 6.31 | 6.39 | 6.64 | 6.68 | 6.77 | 6.76 | 6.35 | 3.4 | ||
| Overdrafts to non-financial corporations and sole proprietors | 19 | 19.05 | 18.97 | 18.88 | 19.03 | 19.23 | 19.04 | 18.89 | 18.81 | 18.68 | 18.31 | 15.83 | ||
| Overdrafts to sole proprietors | 19 | 19.05 | 18.97 | 18.88 | 19.03 | 19.23 | 19.04 | 18.89 | 18.81 | 18.68 | 18.31 | 15.83 | ||
| Fixed-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, 2 to under 10 years | 5.76 | 5.63 | 5.63 | 5.6 | 5.71 | 5.81 | 6.12 | 6.36 | 6.63 | 6.95 | 6.96 | 3.21 | ||
| Fixed-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, 10 to under 20 years | 5.72 | 5.63 | 5.73 | 5.76 | 5.75 | 5.88 | 6.2 | 6.41 | 6.73 | 7.08 | 6.91 | 3.28 | ||
| Fixed-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, 20 years and more | 5.73 | 5.64 | 5.73 | 5.73 | 5.77 | 5.89 | 6.2 | 6.43 | 6.72 | 7.09 | 7.01 | 3.45 | ||
| Variable-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, over 2 years | 5.8 | 5.75 | 5.73 | 5.81 | 6.13 | 6.56 | 7.16 | 7.68 | 7.87 | 7.96 | 8.11 | 3.17 | ||
| Other loans to general government and NPISHs, up to 2 years | 6.29 | 6.04 | 6.16 | 6.28 | 6.68 | 7.33 | 7.64 | 6.99 | 7.35 | 6.91 | 6.8 | 3.11 | ||
| Overdrafts to general government and NPISHs | 19 | 19.05 | 18.97 | 18.88 | 19.03 | 19.23 | 19.04 | 18.89 | 18.81 | 18.68 | 18.31 | 15.83 | ||
| Average effective rates over the previous three months16 | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer loans to individuals up to EUR 3,000 | 17.65 | 17.64 | 17.67 | 17.62 | 17.54 | 17.43 | 17.2 | 17.03 | 16.87 | 16.74 | 16.5 | 15.78 | ||
| Consumer loans to individuals of EUR 3,000 to 6,000 | 11.75 | 11.8 | 11.9 | 11.78 | 11.84 | 11.75 | 11.37 | 10.94 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 7.91 | ||
| Consumer loans to individuals over EUR 6,000 | 6.42 | 6.46 | 6.5 | 6.55 | 6.52 | 6.47 | 6.38 | 6.22 | 6 | 5.81 | 5.51 | 4.34 | ||
| Fixed-rate home loans to individuals, under 10 years | 3.05 | 3 | 3.09 | 3.17 | 3.24 | 3.38 | 3.46 | 3.47 | 3.45 | 3.42 | 3.4 | 2.56 | ||
| Fixed-rate home loans to individuals, 10 to under 20 years | 3.43 | 3.36 | 3.44 | 3.53 | 3.77 | 4.09 | 4.35 | 4.52 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.51 | 2.65 | ||
| Fixed-rate home loans to individuals, 20 years and more | 3.97 | 3.89 | 3.85 | 3.82 | 3.81 | 3.98 | 4.25 | 4.39 | 4.62 | 4.79 | 4.72 | 2.68 | ||
| Variable-rate home loans to individuals | 3.96 | 3.75 | 3.74 | 3.94 | 4.03 | 4.23 | 4.4 | 4.49 | 4.48 | 4.39 | 4.22 | 2.51 | ||
| Bridging loans to individuals | 4.79 | 4.65 | 4.61 | 4.66 | 4.73 | 4.79 | 4.98 | 5.01 | 5.08 | 5.07 | 4.76 | 2.82 | ||
| Overdrafts to non-financial corporations and sole proprietors | 14.25 | 14.29 | 14.23 | 14.16 | 14.27 | 14.42 | 14.28 | 14.17 | 14.11 | 14.01 | 13.73 | 12.35 | ||
| Overdrafts to sole proprietors | 14.25 | 14.29 | 14.23 | 14.16 | 14.27 | 14.42 | 14.28 | 14.17 | 14.11 | 14.01 | 13.73 | 12.35 | ||
| Fixed-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, 2 to under 10 years | 4.32 | 4.22 | 4.22 | 4.2 | 4.28 | 4.36 | 4.59 | 4.77 | 4.97 | 5.21 | 5.22 | 3.19 | ||
| Fixed-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, 10 to under 20 years | 4.29 | 4.22 | 4.3 | 4.32 | 4.31 | 4.41 | 4.65 | 4.81 | 5.05 | 5.31 | 5.18 | 3.18 | ||
| Fixed-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, 20 years and more | 4.3 | 4.23 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.33 | 4.42 | 4.65 | 4.82 | 5.04 | 5.32 | 5.26 | 3.23 | ||
| Variable-rate loans to general government and NPISHs, over 2 years | 4.35 | 4.31 | 4.3 | 4.36 | 4.6 | 4.92 | 5.37 | 5.76 | 5.9 | 5.97 | 6.08 | 3.36 | ||
| Other loans to general government and NPISHs, up to 2 years | 4.72 | 4.53 | 4.62 | 4.71 | 5.01 | 5.5 | 5.73 | 5.24 | 5.51 | 5.18 | 5.1 | 3.08 | ||
| Overdrafts to general government and NPISHs | 14.25 | 14.29 | 14.23 | 14.16 | 14.27 | 14.42 | 14.28 | 14.17 | 14.11 | 14.01 | 13.73 | 12.35 |
Latest reading
The latest reading is 5.29%, for Q3 2026. That is +0.1 pp from Q2 2026 and +0.2 pp from a year earlier. The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q1 2017 to Q3 2026. Source: Banque de France – Webstat (webstat.banque-france.fr).
- Latest
- 5.29%
- Q3 2026
- vs previous period
- +0.1 pp
- Q2 2026
- vs a year earlier
- +0.2 pp
About this data
France usury rates and maximum legal lending rates by loan category from the Banque de France. This quarterly dataset includes the legal maximum annual percentage rates of charge (taux d'usure) and average effective rates over the previous three months. It covers consumer loans, fixed-rate and variable-rate home loans, bridging loans, and overdrafts. The series are available in percent since 1990.
Frequently asked questions
- What are France usury rates?
- France usury rates (taux d'usure) are the legal maximum interest rates that lenders are allowed to charge on loans. They are set quarterly by the Banque de France to protect borrowers from excessive interest rates.
- How often are the French usury rates updated?
- The Banque de France publishes the usury rates and average effective lending rates on a quarterly basis. The historical data in this table is available since 1990.
- What loan categories are covered in this dataset?
- The dataset covers consumer loans up to and over EUR 3,000 and 6,000, fixed-rate home loans by duration, variable-rate mortgages, bridging loans, and overdrafts for individuals and businesses.
- How are the usury thresholds calculated in France?
- The Banque de France calculates the usury thresholds by taking the average effective rates charged by financial institutions during the previous quarter and increasing them by one-third.
