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Approved pawnbroker regulations and interest rates

Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 140, sections 70 to 85 delegates pawnbroker licensing to cities and towns. Cities and towns require approval from the Commissioner of Banks for locally adopted pawnbroker regulations, including maximum interest rates.

No pawnbroker may lawfully charge an interest rate that has not been approved by the Division of Banks (DOB).

The DOB has not approved rates above 36% for amounts greater than $25. The following communities have sought and received the DOB's approval for pawnbroker interest rates. 

Approved pawnbroker interest rate table

Town / CityInterest RateAPR (%)Approval Date
Andover3% per month for loan >$25363/16/2005
Attleboro3% per month for all loans361/18/2011
Beverly3% per month for all loans >$25367/28/2003
Boston3% per month for all loans >$2536Pre-1990
Bourne3% per month for all loans361/2/2011
Brockton3% per month for all loans365/28/2008
CambridgeVariable rate of 1/4% a week for loan >$1001311/13/2002
Chelsea3% per month for all loans above $25368/15/204
Chicopee18% per annum182/11/2003
Everett3% per month for all loans364/9/2014
Fall River3% for all loan3610/28/2010
Fitchburg3% per month for all loans3612/2/2009
Haverhill3% per month for all loans361/4/2008
Holyoke3% per month for all loans365/28/2008
Hudson3% per month for all loans3612/2/2009
Lawrence3% per month for all loans >$25361/11/2002
Lowell3% per month for all loans364/18/2024
Lynn3% per month for all loans3612/2/2009
Malden3% per month for all loans361/23/2024
Middleborough3% per month for all loans368/8/2011
Milford3% per month for all loans367/6/2006
North Adams18% per annum1812/5/2005
New Bedford18% per annum for loans >$25188/22/2013
Palmer3% per month for all loans >$25361/4/2008
Plymouth3% per month for all loans >$253611/14/2003
QuincyOver $25 to $100 3% per month. Over $100 2% per month.2410/23/2008
Raynham3% per month for all loans365/13/2011
Revere3% per month for all loans >$253611/7/2000
Salem3% per month for all loans362/22/2008
Salisbury3% per month for all loans>$25363/26/2004
Somerset3% per month for all loans >$25361/23/2003
Springfield3% per month for all loans367/1/2008
Stoughton3% per month for all loans361/7/2011
Taunton18% per annum185/25/2004
Wareham3% per month366/27/2006
Westfield18% per annum186/23/2004
Winchendon 2% per month for all loans2411/12/2010
Worcester3% per month >$101 for a maximum for 4 months121/16/2004

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