Forrest City at a glance
- Population: about 12,490 residents, ranking 32nd of 500 Census places in Arkansas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 13,016 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 4.0% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 32nd by size among 500 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 94% of Arkansas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 35.0136, -90.7932 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: West Memphis, AR (35 mi); Marion, AR (36 mi); Horn Lake, MS (42 mi); Southaven, MS (46 mi); Hernando, MS (47 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Madison, AR (4 mi); Caldwell, AR (4 mi); Widener, AR (6 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Forrest City
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Forrest City
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Arkansas, and therefore in Forrest City.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Forrest City
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Forrest City:
- 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.