Drakes Branch at a glance
- Population: about 518, 164th by size in Virginia of 227 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 530 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 164th out of 227 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 28% of the Census places in Virginia (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 36.9933, longitude -78.6009 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Keysville, VA (7 mi); Chase City, VA (15 mi); Brookneal, VA (20 mi); Victoria, VA (21 mi); Farmville, VA (24 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Charlotte Court House, VA (5 mi); Phenix, VA (10 mi); Scottsburg, VA (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Drakes Branch
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.
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.
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.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Drakes Branch
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Drakes Branch: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Drakes Branch
Before you share your details with a lender in Drakes Branch:
- 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 Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.