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 Albany, NY
6 credit unions are headquartered in Albany, with 645,335 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
- 6
- Members
- 645,335
- Federal
- 4
- State-chartered
- 2
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in Albany
Albany has 6 credit unions headquartered here and just 1 payday, installment or title loan store. Local credit unions count 645,335 members — roughly 416 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
6
3.9 per 100k residents
645,335 members
Payday & loan stores
1
0.6 per 100k residents
1 store chain
Biggest loan store chains in Albany: Mariner Finance (1).
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in Albany
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the New York rate cap (25% APR) | $89.51/mo | $37.08 |
| Credit union PAL (28% APR) | $90.27/mo | $41.62 |
| Payday loan renewed every 2 weeks (typical $15 per $100, not available in New York) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the New York 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 Albany
- Median household income
- $76,899
- A $400 emergency equals
- 1.9 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 18.3%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 16.0%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for Albany 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 York
| Payday loan in NY | Credit union PAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not allowed — storefront payday loans are banned | Offered by many federal credit unions |
| Rate cap | Capped at 25% 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 York law as summarized on our New York 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 Albany
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadview Federal Credit UnionFederal | 4 Winners Circle Albany, NY 12205 | 511,058 | broadviewfcu.com |
| Sunmark Credit UnionState-chartered | PO Box 16370 Albany, NY 12212 | 88,531 | sunmark.org |
| First New York Federal Credit UnionFederal | 2 Wall Street Albany, NY 12205 | 39,123 | firstnewyork.org |
| Ny Firefighters Bravest Federal Credit UnionFederal | 532 Central Ave Albany, NY 12206 | 4,744 | nybravestfcu.org |
| Fasny Federal Credit UnionFederal | 107 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12210 | 1,140 | fasnyfcu.com |
| Directors Choice Credit UnionState-chartered | 1 South Family Drive Albany, NY 12205 | 739 | directorschoicecu.com |
Payday and installment loan stores in Albany
For comparison: storefront payday, installment and title lenders in Albany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Metro Park Rd Unit 2 Albany, NY 12205 | (518) 489-0123 | — | 4.8 |
More about Albany
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 Albany 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.