Bethel at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 2,659 residents, ranking 349th of 924 places in Ohio (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 2,621 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 1.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Ohio places: 349th largest of 924 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 62% of places in Ohio rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 38.9629, -84.0846.
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Orab, OH (10 mi); New Richmond, OH (11 mi); Georgetown, OH (12 mi); Alexandria, KY (16 mi); Milford, OH (18 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Hamersville, OH (6 mi); Williamsburg, OH (7 mi); Felicity, OH (9 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Bethel
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Bethel
The Ohio rate caps and licensing rules that reach Bethel are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bethel
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Bethel:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.