Covington at a glance
- Population: about 8,568, 69th by size in Tennessee of 344 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 8,668 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.2% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 69th largest of 344 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 80% of places in Tennessee are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.5659, -89.6485 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Atoka, TN (12 mi); Millington, TN (21 mi); Lakeland, TN (21 mi); Arlington, TN (22 mi); Brownsville, TN (22 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller places: Garland, TN (6 mi); Brighton, TN (8 mi); Burlison, TN (8 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Covington
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed 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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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 Covington
Each row below is a Tennessee rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 Covington
A few practical steps will make the process in Covington 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.