Decatur at a glance
- Population: about 1,630 residents, ranking 194th of 344 Census places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,565 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 4.2% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 194th of the state's 344 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 44% of Tennessee's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 35.5291, -84.7933.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Spring City, TN (12 mi); Athens, TN (12 mi); Dayton, TN (12 mi); Sweetwater, TN (19 mi); Etowah, TN (20 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Niota, TN (14 mi); Calhoun, TN (16 mi); Graysville, TN (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Decatur
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
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 Decatur
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Decatur: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| 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 Decatur
Before you commit to a personal loan in Decatur, work through these steps:
- 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.