East Cape Girardeau at a glance
- Population: 259 — 1,046th in Illinois, which has 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 289 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 10.4% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 1,046th of 1,294 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 19% of Illinois's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 37.2940, -89.4802 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Cape Girardeau, MO (4 mi); Scott City, MO (6 mi); Kelso, MO (8 mi); Gordonville, MO (11 mi); Jackson, MO (11 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: McClure, IL (3 mi); Thebes, IL (6 mi); Commerce, MO (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in East Cape Girardeau
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Illinois lending rules that apply in East Cape Girardeau
The Illinois rate caps and licensing rules that reach East Cape Girardeau are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in East Cape Girardeau
Before you share your details with a lender in East Cape Girardeau:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.