DeFuniak Springs at a glance
- Population: 6,764, the 204th-largest community in Florida out of 411 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 5,920 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 14.3% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 204th out of 411 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 50% of Florida places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 30.7061, longitude -86.1186 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Freeport, FL (14 mi); Niceville, FL (25 mi); Crestview, FL (28 mi); Destin, FL (30 mi); Fort Walton Beach, FL (36 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller places: Ponce de Leon, FL (11 mi); Westville, FL (17 mi); Caryville, FL (19 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in DeFuniak Springs
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Florida lending rules that apply in DeFuniak Springs
The table carries the Florida rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in DeFuniak Springs.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in DeFuniak Springs
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in DeFuniak Springs:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.