Bernardsville at a glance
- Population: 7,837, the 146th-largest community in New Jersey out of 323 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 7,892 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 0.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: the 146th-largest of 323 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 55% of New Jersey's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 40.7304, -74.5926 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Morristown, NJ (8 mi); Madison, NJ (9 mi); New Providence, NJ (10 mi); Florham Park, NJ (11 mi); Dover, NJ (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Mendham, NJ (3 mi); Far Hills, NJ (3 mi); Peapack and Gladstone, NJ (3 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Bernardsville
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Bernardsville
The table carries the New Jersey rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bernardsville.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury limits | 30% for non-corporate borrowers; 50% for corporations Source says: "the criminal usury limitation is 50 percent for corporations and 30 percent for non-corporate borrowers" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Civil usury: rates above 6% (agreement not in writing) or above 16% (written contract specifying the rate) Source says: "the civil usury rate is any interest rate greater than 6 percent for an agreement that is not in writing" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Unlicensed payday lending violates New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates; payday lenders must be licensed Source says: "out-of-state or foreign entities that have not obtained the required New Jersey license and whose payment terms violate New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required for loans of $50,000 or less for personal, family, or household purposes (N.J.S.A. 17:11C-1 et seq.) Source says: "A consumer lender license is required for the making of a loan that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI); Office of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders Source says: "The Office of Consumer Finance regulates 16 types of businesses that provide a variety of consumer financial services." | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bernardsville
Before you commit to a personal loan in Bernardsville, work through these steps:
- 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 Jersey using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.