Crane Finance rates & fees, in plain numbers
Crane Finance publishes its fees but not its APR — that's set per loan and shown in your agreement. Every published number, what borrowers report paying, and a calculator for a realistic payment before you apply.
Every fee Crane Finance publishes
These four numbers come straight from the lender's Rates & Terms page. Nothing else is charged on top of interest.
What Crane Finance actually charges in interest
Two sources, kept separate on purpose: what the lender states, and what borrowers and courts have documented.
Published by Crane Finance
- APR is "determined by the amount you choose to borrow and the length of time you choose to keep your loan outstanding."
- Finance charges are "based on a customer's creditworthiness" — credit and payment history, income, employment, existing debt.
- The APR and total finance charge are "fully disclosed to you in your loan agreement upon approval."
- The lender calls this "an expensive form of borrowing" intended for short-term needs.
- Loan amounts: $100 – $1,500. Loans are governed by tribal and federal law, so state rate caps don't apply.
Reported by borrowers & court filings
- 733.66% APR on a ~$255 loan — Knotts v. Crane Lending, S.D. Indiana, filed July 2022.
- 298.8% APR — Trustpilot review: $500 repaid over 9 payments of $166 (≈$1,494 total).
- $850 → $4,057 total over 9 payments of $545 — BBB customer review, Nov 2025.
- Independent reviews summarize the typical range as 300% to over 700%.
- Washington DFI lists Crane Lending as not licensed in that state; California's 30–36% small-loan cap is being argued in court.
What a $500 loan can really cost
Same principal, three outcomes. The difference is almost entirely the number of payments you keep the loan open for.
Ranges use example APRs of 300–500% and equal bi-weekly payments; your agreement sets the actual figure.
Payment estimator
Set the amount, number of payments and an example APR. Your real APR is in your agreement.
How to read your loan agreement
Crane Finance sends the agreement after approval, before any money moves. Under the Truth in Lending Act it must show the same four boxes every lender uses. Find these before you e-sign:
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR) — the yearly cost as a percentage. This is the number reviews quote. If it's in the hundreds, that's normal for this lender — decide whether it's worth it for your situation.
- Finance charge — the dollar amount the loan costs you if you make every payment on schedule. Compare it to the amount financed.
- Amount financed — what's actually deposited. One BBB complaint says the funded amount was less than the loan balance; check the two match.
- Total of payments — amount financed + finance charge. This is your true "price."
Then check the payment schedule (dates and amounts — they follow your pay dates), the ACH authorization (you can revoke it later; see stop automatic payments) and the arbitration clause, which routes disputes to tribal arbitration rather than your state court.
Four ways to lower what you pay
Crane Finance rates & fees — quick answers
What APR does Crane Finance charge?
What fees does Crane Finance charge?
How much does a $500 Crane Finance loan cost?
Is there a penalty for paying off a Crane Finance loan early?
How these fees stack up
| Lender type | Typical APR | Late / NSF fees | Prepay penalty | Max amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Finance (tribal) | 300–700%+ reported | $20 after 10 days · $30 NSF | None | $1,500 |
| OppLoans (state-licensed) | 59–160% | Varies by state | None | $4,000 |
| Credit union PAL | Capped at 28% | ≤ $20 app fee | None | $2,000 |
| Typical payday loan | 300–400% | State-set | n/a (2-week term) | $500 |
Sources: cranefinance.com/rates-and-terms · same-day funding · Knotts v. Crane Lending, LLC, No. 1:22-cv-01511 (S.D. Ind.) · Trustpilot · BBB customer reviews. Checked October 15, 2026.