Fairfield Bay at a glance
- Population: 2,165 — 129th in Arkansas, which has 500 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,106 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 2.8% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: the 129th-largest of 500 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 74% of the places in Arkansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 35.6011, -92.2662 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Clinton, AR (11 mi); Heber Springs, AR (15 mi); Mountain View, AR (20 mi); Greenbrier, AR (27 mi); Vilonia, AR (36 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Shirley, AR (4 mi); Higden, AR (4 mi); Greers Ferry, AR (6 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Fairfield Bay
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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 term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Fairfield Bay
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fairfield Bay
Run through this list before signing anything in Fairfield Bay:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.