usurious lending

[/juːˈʒʊriəs ˈlɛndɪŋ/]
noun
empréstimo usurário
1. the practice of lending money at illegally or immorally high interest rates
Usurious lending practices prey on vulnerable populations who have limited access to traditional banking.
As práticas de empréstimo usurário exploram populações vulneráveis que têm acesso limitado ao sistema bancário tradicional.
2. a loan transaction characterized by excessively high interest rates that exceed legal limits
The borrower realized too late that he had fallen victim to usurious lending.
O mutuário percebeu tarde demais que havia se tornado vítima de um empréstimo usurário.
Usurious lending is a significant social issue in both Brazil and the USA, particularly affecting low-income communities. In Brazil, informal lending networks and illegal loan sharks (agiotas) remain problematic despite regulatory efforts. The practice is criminalized in both countries, but enforcement varies. In the USA, predatory lending became a major concern during the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. Both cultures recognize this as financial exploitation and there is growing consumer protection legislation to combat it.
NYC Slang
loan sharking
Synonyms / Sinônimos
predatory lendingloan sharkingextortionate lendingexcessive interest lending
Antonyms / Antônimos
fair lendingethical lendinglegitimate banking

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
empréstimo usurário
standard term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
empréstimo usurário / agiotagem
agiotagem is commonly used colloquially for loan sharking practices
São Paulo
empréstimo usurário / financiamento predatório
more formal business and legal terminology preferred
Portugal
empréstimo usurário
similar terminology, with emphasis on usura in legal contexts

Related Words

usuryinterest ratepredatory lenderloan sharkdebt trapfinancial exploitation

Related Idioms & Phrases

caught in a debt trap
bleeding someone dry
paying through the nose
eating someone's lunch
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