Compare legal limits, fees and the true cost of small loans in your state before you talk to any lender. Compare legal limits, fees and the true cost of small loans in your state.
Credit Unions vs Payday Loans in Hilo, HI
5 credit unions are headquartered in Hilo, with 102,459 members in total. Credit unions are member-owned and often offer small personal loans and payday alternative loans (PALs) at far lower rates than payday lenders.
- Credit unions
- 5
- Members
- 102,459
- Federal
- 5
- State-chartered
- 0
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in Hilo
Hilo has 5 credit unions headquartered here and just 1 payday, installment or title loan store. Local credit unions count 102,459 members — roughly 201 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
5
9.8 per 100k residents
102,459 members
Payday & loan stores
1
2.0 per 100k residents
1 store chain
Biggest loan store chains in Hilo: OneMain Financial (1).
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in Hilo
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the Hawaii rate cap (36% APR) | $92.30/mo | $53.79 |
| Credit union PAL (28% APR) | $90.27/mo | $41.62 |
| Payday loan renewed every 2 weeks (typical $15 per $100, not available in Hawaii) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the Hawaii rate cap vs median monthly household income
- 1.4%
Example calculation with fixed monthly payments; the payday row shows typical out-of-state pricing for comparison. Actual rates and terms vary by lender.
What it means for a household in Hilo
- Median household income
- $78,537
- A $400 emergency equals
- 1.9 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 17.4%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 13.8%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for Hilo are population-weighted and approximate. Hours of work are based on the median individual income.
Payday loans vs credit union PALs: the rules in Hawaii
| Payday loan in HI | Credit union PAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not allowed — storefront payday loans are banned | Offered by many federal credit unions |
| Rate cap | Capped at 36% APR (2021 Law) | Up to 28% |
| Term | Usually 2–4 weeks, due in one payment | 1 to 12 months, in installments |
| Credit check | Usually none; a bank account and income are required | Membership required; payments can be reported to credit bureaus |
Payday rules: Hawaii law as summarized on our Hawaii payday page. PAL rules: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) rules for federal credit unions (PAL I and PAL II); state-chartered credit unions may offer similar small loans.
Credit unions headquartered in Hilo
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hfs Federal Credit UnionFederal | 632 Kinoole St Hilo, HI 96720 | 55,975 | hfsfcu.org |
| Credit Union HawaiiFederal | 476 Hinano St Hilo, HI 96720 | 29,596 | cuhawaii.com |
| Big Island Federal Credit UnionFederal | 66 Lono St Hilo, HI 96720 | 9,583 | bigislandfcu.com |
| Hawaii County Employees Federal Credit UnionFederal | 131 Puuhonu Way Hilo, HI 96720 | 5,930 | hawaiicountyfcu.com |
| Helco Federal Credit UnionFederal | 1437 Kilauea Ave Ste 105 Hilo, HI 96720 | 1,375 | helcofcu.org |
Payday and installment loan stores in Hilo
For comparison: storefront payday, installment and title lenders in Hilo with addresses, phone numbers and hours. Check a credit union first — a PAL or small personal loan usually costs far less.
| Address | Phone | Hours | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 315 Makaala St Ste 112 Hilo, HI 96720 | (808) 961-3431 | — | 4.2 |
More about Hilo
Only credit union headquarters are listed, with the address on file with the NCUA; phone numbers and branch locations are on each credit union’s website. Many credit unions also have branches in Hilo and nearby — check membership requirements, as some are open to anyone who lives or works in the area. Loan stores: storefront locations of major payday, installment and title lenders; call ahead to confirm hours.