What does usury refer to in financial terms?

Usury refers to the practice of charging more than the maximum legal interest rate on a loan. This concept is rooted in laws designed to protect borrowers from excessively high-interest rates that can lead to financial exploitation. Each jurisdiction may set its own limits on how much interest can be charged, and when lenders exceed these limits, they are deemed to be engaging in usury.

Understanding usury is essential for maintaining fair financial practices and ensuring that borrowers are treated ethically. By identifying excessive interest charges and differentiating them from standard or legal interest rates, both borrowers and lenders can navigate their financial agreements more responsibly.