Brisbane at a glance
- Population: 4,577 residents, the 434th-largest of 482 places in California (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 4,853 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 5.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among California places: the 434th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 10% of California's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 37.6758, -122.3833.
- Nearest larger cities: South San Francisco, CA (1 mi); San Bruno, CA (4 mi); Daly City, CA (5 mi); Millbrae, CA (5 mi); Burlingame, CA (6 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Colma, CA (4 mi); Belvedere, CA (14 mi); Ross, CA (22 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Brisbane
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in Brisbane
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in California, and therefore in Brisbane.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Brisbane
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Brisbane:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.