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 Elizabeth, NJ
5 credit unions are headquartered in Elizabeth, with 9,330 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
- 9,330
- Federal
- 5
- State-chartered
- 0
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in Elizabeth
Elizabeth has 5 credit unions headquartered here and just 1 payday, installment or title loan store. Local credit unions count 9,330 members — roughly 9 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
5
4.8 per 100k residents
9,330 members
Payday & loan stores
1
1.0 per 100k residents
1 store chain
Biggest loan store chains in Elizabeth: Oportun (1).
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in Elizabeth
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the New Jersey rate cap (30% APR) | $90.77/mo | $44.65 |
| Credit union PAL (28% APR) | $90.27/mo | $41.62 |
| Payday loan renewed every 2 weeks (typical $15 per $100, not available in New Jersey) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the New Jersey rate cap vs median monthly household income
- 1.7%
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 Elizabeth
- Median household income
- $64,554
- A $400 emergency equals
- 2.3 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 16.9%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 14.3%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for Elizabeth 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 Jersey
| Payday loan in NJ | Credit union PAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not allowed — storefront payday loans are banned | Offered by many federal credit unions |
| Rate cap | Capped at 30% APR (Criminal Usury) | 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 Jersey law as summarized on our New Jersey 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 Elizabeth
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaport Federal Credit UnionFederal | 5080 Mclester St Elizabeth, NJ 07201 | 5,698 | seaportfcu.org |
| Wakefern Federal Credit UnionFederal | 505 Division St Elizabeth, NJ 07201 | 1,224 | wakefernfcu.org |
| Elizabeth (N.J.) Firemen's Federal Credit UnionFederal | 411 Irvington Ave Elizabeth, NJ 07208 | 1,127 | enjffcu.org |
| Union County Employees Federal Credit UnionFederal | 10 Elizabethtown Plz - Fl3 Elizabeth, NJ 07202 | 1,001 | ucefcu.org |
| Elizabeth Police Department E Federal Credit UnionFederal | 1 Police Plz Elizabeth, NJ 07201 | 280 | — |
Payday and installment loan stores in Elizabeth
For comparison: storefront payday, installment and title lenders in Elizabeth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128 Elmora Ave Elizabeth, NJ 07202 | (732) 497-3253 | — | 4.9 |
More about Elizabeth
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 Elizabeth 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.