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 State College, PA
1 credit union is headquartered in State College, with 11,905 members. 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
- 1
- Members
- 11,905
- Federal
- 1
- State-chartered
- 0
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in State College
State College has 2 payday, installment and title loan stores but only 1 credit unions headquartered here — about 2.0 loan stores for every credit union. Local credit unions count 11,905 members — roughly 18 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
1
1.5 per 100k residents
11,905 members
Payday & loan stores
2
3.0 per 100k residents
2 store chains
Biggest loan store chains in State College: Lendmark Financial Services (1), OneMain Financial (1).
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in State College
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the Pennsylvania rate cap (24% APR) | $89.26/mo | $35.58 |
| Credit union PAL (28% APR) | $90.27/mo | $41.62 |
| Payday loan renewed every 2 weeks (typical $15 per $100, not available in Pennsylvania) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the Pennsylvania rate cap vs median monthly household income
- 1.6%
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 State College
- Median household income
- $66,118
- A $400 emergency equals
- 2.2 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 22.2%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 27.1%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for State College are population-weighted and approximate. Hours of work are based on the median individual income.
Payday loans vs credit union PALs: the rules in Pennsylvania
| Payday loan in PA | Credit union PAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not allowed — storefront payday loans are banned | Offered by many federal credit unions |
| Rate cap | Capped at 24% 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: Pennsylvania law as summarized on our Pennsylvania 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 State College
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arize Federal Credit UnionFederal | 1145 Benner Pike State College, PA 16801 | 11,905 | arizefcu.org |
Payday and installment loan stores in State College
For comparison: storefront payday, installment and title lenders in State College 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2264 E College Ave State College, PA 16801 | (814) 861-2042 | — | 4.5 |
| 1647 N Atherton St State College, PA 16803 | (814) 237-4925 | — | 3.9 |
More about State College
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 State College 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.