Fossil at a glance
- Population: about 445 residents, ranking 195th of 240 Census places in Oregon (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 447 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 0.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Oregon places: 195th-largest of 240 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 19% of Oregon places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 44.9981, -120.2146.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Condon, OR (17 mi); Heppner, OR (40 mi); Arlington, OR (50 mi); Madras, OR (52 mi); Dufur, OR (54 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Lonerock, OR (17 mi); Spray, OR (24 mi); Antelope, OR (26 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fossil
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Oregon lending rules that apply in Fossil
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Oregon, and therefore in Fossil.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed payday/title lenders; term 31-60 days; one-time 10% origination fee capped at $30; interest limited to 36%/yr; max APR 153.77%. Source says: "Interest rates are limited to 36 percent annually. The maximum APR (interest and fees) is 153.77 percent"; "A one-time 10 percent loan origination fee, up to a maximum of $30 for a new loan"; "The payday or title loan must be for at least 31 days and not longer than 60 days." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required to make consumer finance loans of $50,000 or less; license issued by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Source says: "a consumer finance loan of $50,000 or less... unless the person first obtains a license under this chapter" (ORS 725.045). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (Department of Consumer and Business Services) Source says: "Protecting Oregonians' access to fair products and services through education, regulation, and consumer assistance." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Unlicensed lending consequence (state-specific rule) | Unlicensed consumer finance loans are void and uncollectible (principal, interest, fees). Source says: "the consumer finance loan is void... may not... collect, receive or retain principal, interest, a fee or a charge related to... the consumer finance loan" (ORS 725.045(1)(b)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% per annum default legal rate where the parties have not agreed to a rate. Source says: "The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum" (ORS 82.010(1)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fossil
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Fossil:
- 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 Oregon using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.