Source: http://schleckpa.com/legal-topics/business-law/usury-law
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 00:02:18+00:00

Document:
Minnesota has enacted legislation that provides for a tight regulation of personal and consumer loans. In this regard, when it comes to a personal loan made in the State of Minnesota, the usury limit is set at 8%. Individuals and some types of corporations are prohibited from extending a loan to an individual consumer that has an interest rate provision requiring payment of interest at a rate that exceeds 8% per annum. As noted, this represents one of the more restrictive usury limitations that have been implemented by any state in the U.S.
There are other statutory schemes in place in Minnesota that govern the interest rates of other types of financing situations. For example, there is a statutory code that governs the interest rates that can be charged permissibly by banks, savings and loans, and credit unions that have been duly chartered within the State of Minnesota. (It is important to note that in recent years state chartered financial institutions are declining in number. With interstate banking laws now on the books in many jurisdictions, the benefits of state chartered financial institutions have been on the decrease.
The statutory provisions that govern usury and personal loans in Minnesota can be found codified at Minnesota Statutes and Session Laws at Chapters 44A and 45. I have attached a copy of the statute for your reference. As has been noted, other statutory provisions relating to different types of loans and lending practices are codified elsewhere within the Minnesota statutory scheme.
In this matter, the loan from Sirois to Weber [as well as the loan from Scherber to Weber] was in writing and made between individuals. Therefore, the basic statutory limit of 8% applies, unless the facts support classification under one or more of a number of statutory exceptions.
Scherber’s attorney is under the impression that this matter is settled, contingent on the exchange of mutual releases.
Assuming that Jerome Weber signed the note and that the debt would otherwise constitute a valid obligation of the estate, what is the maximum interest rate that can be charged by Sirois?
If the principal amount of the indebtedness is less than $100,000, or if there is a binding commitment to extend credit of less than $100,000, and the loan is made for business or agricultural purposes, the lender may not charge more than 4.5% in excess of the discount rate4 on 90-day commercial paper in effect at the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve District encompassing Minnesota. 5 The term "business" means a commercial or industrial enterprise which is carried on for the purpose of active or passive investment or profit. For such loans, if interest in due in excess of the maximum, then the excess is forfeited. Alternatively, if interest has been paid, the borrower may recover twice the amount actually paid, if an action is commenced to recover it within 2 years after it was paid.
Certain usurious contracts are void and the lender is not entitled to accrued interest or principal.9 This provision does appear to apply to loans of less than $100,000 made for agricultural or business purposes which charge more than the maximum permitted (4.5% in excess of Federal Reserve Discount Rate), 10 though the statutory language is not absolutely clear. Even if it were to apply, it is unclear whether the borrower may not only refrain from repaying the debt but also recover the amounts of principal or interest previously paid.
Minn. Stat. §334.01, Subd 1. Loans not evidenced by a writing are subject to a maximum interest rate of 6%.
Minn. Stat. §334.01, Subd 2.
Currently, the rate is 0.75%, which means that the maximum interest rate under this section is 5.25%.
Seller of property may demand higher price if payments are to be made over time. Applies to credit unions, industrial loan and thrifts and sales to small business licensees under Minn. Stat. § §52.04, 53.04 and 56.132.
Retail sales contracts under Minn. Stat. §334.016 or open-end loan account arrangements with banks, under Minn. Stat. §48.185.
Minn. Stat. §334.01, subd. 1.
10 Barton v. Moore, 558 N.W.2d 746 (Minn. 1977).
300 Minn. 223, 219 N.W.2d 641 (1974).
13 See id. See also Katz & Lange, Ltd. v. Beugen, 356 N.W.2d 733, 735 (Minn.Ct.App.1984) (“Although the interest rate . was usurious, [the] counterclaim seeking to have the entire underlying debt declared void is too harsh under the circumstances. [Cite to Rathbun.] Forfeiture of all the charges is a sufficient remedy.” (emphasis added)); Kudzia v. Weise, No. C7-93-1906, 1994 WL 233599 (Minn.Ct.App. May 31, 1994) (unpublished) (citing Rathbun and Beugen).
14 See, e.g., Fogie v. Thorn Americas, Inc., 190 F.3d 889 (8th Cir. 1999).

References: §334
 §334
 §52
 §334
 §48
 §334
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