Bristol at a glance
- Population: roughly 27,854 people; 27th of 344 places in Tennessee (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 27,132 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 2.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 27th of the state's 344 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 92% of Tennessee's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.5585 / -82.2170, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Johnson City, TN (17 mi); Kingsport, TN (18 mi); Morristown, TN (65 mi); Asheville, NC (71 mi); Hickory, NC (76 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Bristol, VA (5 mi); Bluff City, TN (8 mi); Watauga, TN (14 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Bristol
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
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.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Bristol
The table carries the Tennessee rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bristol.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bristol
A few practical steps will make the process in Bristol 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.