Braden at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 252, placing it 327th among Tennessee's 344 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 259 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: the 327th-largest of 344 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 5% of Tennessee's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.3685, longitude -89.5718 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Mason, TN (4 mi); Gallaway, TN (4 mi); Arlington, TN (9 mi); Oakland, TN (10 mi); Lakeland, TN (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: La Grange, TN (29 mi); Hickory Valley, TN (29 mi); Marie, AR (33 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Braden
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Braden
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Braden: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Braden
A few practical steps will make the process in Braden 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.