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 Manchester, NH
5 credit unions are headquartered in Manchester, with 196,324 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
- 196,324
- Federal
- 0
- State-chartered
- 5
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in Manchester
Manchester has 5 credit unions headquartered here, and we found no storefront payday loan chains. Local credit unions count 196,324 members — roughly 164 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
5
4.2 per 100k residents
196,324 members
Payday & loan stores
0
0 store chains
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in Manchester
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the New Hampshire 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 Manchester
- Median household income
- $77,748
- A $400 emergency equals
- 1.9 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 12.8%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 10.7%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for Manchester are population-weighted and approximate. Hours of work are based on the median individual income.
Payday loans vs credit union PALs: the rules in New Hampshire
| Payday loan in NH | 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: New Hampshire law as summarized on our New Hampshire 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 Manchester
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's Bank Credit UnionState-chartered | 200 Mcgregor St Manchester, NH 03102 | 102,473 | stmarysbank.com |
| Granite State Credit UnionState-chartered | PO Box 6420 Manchester, NH 03108 | 53,516 | gscu.org |
| Bellwether Community Credit UnionState-chartered | 425 Hooksett Rd Manchester, NH 03104 | 24,377 | bccu.org |
| Members First Credit Union of N.H.State-chartered | P.O. Box 896 Manchester, NH 03105 | 12,922 | membersfirstnh.org |
| New Hampshire Postal Credit UnionState-chartered | PO Box 4444 Manchester, NH 03108 | 3,036 | nhpcu.com |
More about Manchester
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 Manchester 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.