Galena at a glance
- Population: 3,250 residents, the 403rd-largest of 1,294 places in Illinois (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,316 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.0% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 403rd by size among 1,294 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 69% of the Census places in Illinois (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 42.4221, -90.4278 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Dubuque, IA (15 mi); Asbury, IA (19 mi); Platteville, WI (21 mi); Maquoketa, IA (28 mi); Lancaster, WI (33 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Menominee, IL (7 mi); St. Donatus, IA (7 mi); Hazel Green, WI (8 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Galena
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
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.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Galena
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Galena
Before you commit to a personal loan in Galena, work through these steps:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.