Bergen at a glance
- Population: 1,209 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 389th-largest of 595 places in New York.
- 2020 Census base: 1,240 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.5% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 389th largest of 595 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 35% of New York's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 43.0826, -77.9425 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Churchville, NY (3 mi); Le Roy, NY (8 mi); Caledonia, NY (9 mi); Brockport, NY (9 mi); Spencerport, NY (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Elba, NY (12 mi); Wyoming, NY (19 mi); Alexander, NY (20 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Bergen
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
New York lending rules that apply in Bergen
The table carries the New York rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bergen.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bergen
A few practical steps will make the process in Bergen less costly:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.