Fort Gay at a glance
- Population: 661 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 133rd-largest of 230 places in West Virginia.
- 2020 Census base: 678 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.5% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 133rd in population of 230 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 42% of the Census places in West Virginia (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.1222 latitude, -82.5913 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Louisa, KY (1 mi); Wayne, WV (11 mi); Ceredo, WV (19 mi); Kenova, WV (19 mi); Catlettsburg, KY (20 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Blaine, KY (15 mi); Inez, KY (18 mi); Warfield, KY (22 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fort Gay
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Fort Gay
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Fort Gay: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fort Gay
Before you share your details with a lender in Fort Gay:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.