Local briefing · AK
Payday loans in Ketchikan, AK
If you are weighing a payday loan in Ketchikan, AK, the rules that apply come from Alaska rather than the city: payday lending is permitted for licensed lenders in Alaska, inside the state fee cap. Ketchikan has about 8,079 residents and ranks 6th of 149 places in the state. Start with the sourced fee cap below, then compare the APR against an installment loan.
Advertising disclosure: Paydayloaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.
Payday lending in Alaska
Permitted
The local picture
Payday loan rules that apply in Ketchikan
Every figure below is published by the state or the regulator that sets it, with a link to the primary source. These rules apply to any lender serving Ketchikan — Alaska's fee cap is not adjusted city by city.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.5% per annum default; by contract, the greater of 10% or 5 percentage points above the 12th Federal Reserve District advance rate (loans over $25,000 exempt)Source quoteSource says: "The rate of interest in the state is 10.5 percent a year and no more on money after it is due"; "more than the greater of 10 percent or five percentage points above the annual rate charged member banks for advances by the 12th Federal Reserve District". | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes § 45.45.010 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted — licensed deferred deposit advances; max $500 outstanding per borrower; origination fee ≤$5; fee ≤$15 per $100 or 15%; minimum 14-day termSource quoteSource says: "may not make advances to an advance recipient that exceed $500 outstanding in advances to the recipient at one time"; "a fee that does not exceed $15 for each $100 of an advance, or 15 percent of the total amount of the advance". | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes §§ 06.50.410, 06.50.460 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required from the department to make loans of $25,000 or less at above-legal rates; $25,000 liquid assets and $25,000 bond requiredSource quoteSource says: "without first obtaining a license from the department"; "liquid assets of at least $25,000". | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes §§ 06.20.010, 06.20.040 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (Division of Banking and Securities)Source quoteSource says: "department means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development". The Division of Banking and Securities (commerce.alaska.gov/web/dbs) administers the department's lending license programs. | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes § 06.50.900(5) as of 2026-09-16 |
What a payday loan costs in Ketchikan
The number that matters is not the fee on the day you borrow — it is the total you repay if the loan is renewed. A rollover adds a fresh fee without reducing what you borrowed, which is how a two-week advance turns into months of payments. Some states cap the number of renewals; whether Alaska does is in the sourced table above. If you cannot clear the balance on the due date, ask the lender for a written repayment plan before you renew. How rollovers compound.
Cheaper alternatives in Ketchikan
If you are a credit-union member, ask about a payday alternative loan (PAL). Federal credit unions can offer small loans at a capped APR with a longer repayment window than a payday advance, and the application usually costs less. If you are not a member, joining a local credit union is often quick and is one of the cheapest ways to borrow a few hundred dollars. How PALs work.
About Ketchikan
- Population: 8,079 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- Size in Alaska: the 6th-largest of 149 Census places in the state.
- Population trend: Its population fell about 1.4% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate.
Before you borrow in Ketchikan
- Confirm payday lending is permitted in Alaska and check the maximum fee in the table above.
- Compare the APR, not the dollar fee — that is the only way to compare a two-week loan with a two-year one.
- Run the numbers with our loan payment calculator to price the same amount as an installment loan.
- Verify the lender is licensed in Alaska with the regulator listed above.
- Never give a lender remote access to your bank account beyond the amount you actually owe, and ask for any repayment plan in writing.
Advertising disclosure: Paydayloaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a payday loan in Ketchikan?
How much can I borrow with a payday loan in Ketchikan?
How much does a payday loan cost in Ketchikan?
Will a payday loan in Ketchikan hurt my credit?
Nearby places
All Alaska citiesNearest Census places by distance.