East St. Louis at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 17,642, placing it 143rd among Illinois's 1,294 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 18,462 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 4.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 143rd of the state's 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 89% of Illinois's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 38.6164, -90.1305 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): St. Louis, MO (6 mi); Granite City, IL (8 mi); Collinsville, IL (8 mi); Belleville, IL (10 mi); University City, MO (11 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Washington Park, IL (2 mi); Sauget, IL (2 mi); Fairmont City, IL (3 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in East St. Louis
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Illinois lending rules that apply in East St. Louis
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 St. Louis
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in East St. Louis:
- 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.