Anti-usury laws, sometimes also called usury laws, are regulations that set limits on annual interest rate that can be charged on loans. Anti-usury laws aim to prevent lenders from charging excessive or exploitative interest rates. In the U.S., usury laws are enacted at both the federal and state levels. In general, usury laws specify a maximum interest rate that can be charged on loans. If a lender charges interest above this limit, the loan may be considered usurious, and the lender could face legal consequences.