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 Billings, MT
4 credit unions are headquartered in Billings, with 95,278 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
- 4
- Members
- 95,278
- Federal
- 2
- State-chartered
- 2
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in Billings
Billings has 4 credit unions headquartered here and just 1 payday, installment or title loan store. Local credit unions count 95,278 members — roughly 66 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
4
2.8 per 100k residents
95,278 members
Payday & loan stores
1
0.7 per 100k residents
1 store chain
Biggest loan store chains in Billings: OneMain Financial (1).
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in Billings
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the Montana 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 Montana) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the Montana 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 Billings
- Median household income
- $76,702
- A $400 emergency equals
- 1.9 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 13.3%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 10.3%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for Billings are population-weighted and approximate. Hours of work are based on the median individual income.
Payday loans vs credit union PALs: the rules in Montana
| Payday loan in MT | Credit union PAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not allowed — storefront payday loans are banned | Offered by many federal credit unions |
| Rate cap | Capped at 36% APR | 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: Montana law as summarized on our Montana 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 Billings
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altana Federal Credit UnionFederal | 3212 Central Ave Billings, MT 59102 | 40,056 | altanafcu.org |
| Valley Financial Credit UnionState-chartered | PO Box 20417 Billings, MT 59104 | 38,943 | valleyfcu.com |
| Billings Federal Credit UnionFederal | PO Box 1779 Billings, MT 59103 | 13,027 | billingsfcu.org |
| Rimrock Credit UnionState-chartered | 952 Central Ave Billings, MT 59102 | 3,252 | rimrockcu.org |
Payday and installment loan stores in Billings
For comparison: storefront payday, installment and title lenders in Billings 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1633 Main St Unit C Billings, MT 59105 | (406) 238-9800 | — | 4.5 |
More about Billings
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 Billings 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.