522291 — Consumer Lending
Description
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in making unsecured cash loans to consumers (as defined in the official U.S. Census Bureau 2022 NAICS Manual).
Illustrative Examples
- Finance companies (i.e., unsecured cash loans)
- Personal credit institutions (i.e., unsecured cash loans)
- Loan companies (i.e., consumer, personal, student, small)
- Student loan companies
Exclusions & Cross-References
- Accepting deposits and lending funds from these deposits--are classified in Industry Group 5221,
- Depository Credit Intermediation;
- Arranging loans for others on a commission or fee basis--are classified in Industry 522310, Mortgage and
- Nonmortgage Loan Brokers;
- Servicing loans or providing check cashing services--are classified in Industry 522390, Other Activities
- Related to Credit Intermediation;
- Providing credit sales by issuing credit cards--are classified in Industry 522210, Credit Card Issuing; and
- Factoring accounts receivables--are classified in U.S. Industry 522299, International, Secondary Market,
- and All Other Depository Credit Intermediation.
Overview Facts
Legacy SIC Concordance
Trace the historical mapping chain from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to the modern 2022 NAICS code format.
- SIC 6141 - Personal Credit Institutions (via SIC1987:6141→NAICS1997:522291→2002:522291→2007:522291→2012:522291→2017:522291→2022:522291)
Suggested Product Service Codes (Advisory)
The following Product Service Codes (PSCs) are advisory suggestions aligned with this NAICS code. Note: NAICS and PSC codes map to different dimensions of procurement (industry vs. product/service). There is no official binding 1:1 crosswalk.
- PSC R711 — Banking Services(includes accepting and cashing government checks and other payment instruments, accepting direct deposits, accepting payments to the government from the public)
Source: DoD DPCAP PSC Selection Tool (Ingested: 2026-06-29)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is NAICS code 522291 valid in 2022? ▾
Yes, 522291 is a valid 6-digit 2022 NAICS national industry code representing 'Consumer Lending' under Sector 52 in the official classification index.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS code 522291? ▾
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a small business size standard of $47,000,000 for NAICS code 522291 (Consumer Lending), calculated based on receipts.
What is the legacy SIC equivalent for NAICS 522291? ▾
According to official Census Bureau concordance tables, NAICS code 522291 (Consumer Lending) maps to legacy 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes: 6141 - Personal Credit Institutions.
Related Pages & Tools
Further regulatory reference links for NAICS code 522291:
- Sector 52 Directory Hub — List of related industries in the Finance and Insurance sector.
- SIC ↔ NAICS Crosswalk Tool — Look up mappings between legacy SIC codes and modern classifications.
- NAICS 522291 to SIC Crosswalk — Bidirectional mapping to legacy SIC codes (Consumer Lending).
- SBA Size Standards Guide — Complete rules and averaging periods for small business classifications.
- Calculating Annual Receipts Guide — Detailed worked example of revenue calculation rules.
- IRS Principal Business Activity Guide — How NAICS codes map to corporate and entity tax filings.