Usury Act 1660


The Usury Act 1660 was an act of the Parliament of England with the long title "An Act for restraining the taking of Excessive Usury".
The purpose of the act was to reduce the maximum interest rate from 8% to 6%. The legislation had been enacted in 1651 under the Commonwealth, but this act was passed to confer legality on the measure following the Restoration of Charles II.

Subsequent developments

The act was. confirmed by section 1 of the Confirmation of Acts (No. 3) Act 1661.
The act was amended by the Usury Act 1714, which further reduced the interest rate to 5%; the Usury Act 1840 ; the Usury Act 1841 ; the Usury Act 1843 ; the Usury Act 1845 ; and the Usury Act 1850.
The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Usury Laws Repeal Act 1854.