El Cenizo at a glance
- Population: about 2,432, 542nd by size in Texas of 1,224 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,540 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 4.3% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 542nd by size among 1,224 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 56% of places in Texas rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 27.3317 / -99.5013, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Rio Bravo, TX (3 mi); Laredo, TX (16 mi); Roma, TX (70 mi); Escobares, TX (72 mi); Rio Grande City, TX (78 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Encinal, TX (50 mi); Freer, TX (66 mi); Benavides, TX (69 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in El Cenizo
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
Texas lending rules that apply in El Cenizo
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) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in El Cenizo
Run through this list before signing anything in El Cenizo:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.