Gardiner at a glance
- Population: 6,159, the 20th-largest community in Maine out of 23 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,960 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.3% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maine places: 20th of the state's 23 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 13% of the Census places in Maine (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 44.1951, longitude -69.7938 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Augusta, ME (10 mi); Bath, ME (18 mi); Lewiston, ME (20 mi); Auburn, ME (24 mi); Waterville, ME (25 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Hallowell, ME (6 mi); Lyndonville, VT (111 mi); West Burke, VT (112 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Gardiner
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Maine lending rules that apply in Gardiner
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum finance charge for supervised lenders | $5 (loans ≤$75), $15 ($75–<$250), $25 (≥$250) — 9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(7) Source says: "the lender may contract for and receive a minimum charge of not more than ... Twenty-five dollars when the amount financed is $250 or more" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 30% per year on unpaid balances up to $2,000; 24% on $2,000–$4,000; 18% above $4,000 (9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(2)) Source says: "30% per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is $2,000 or less" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders are licensed as supervised lenders by the BCCP and subject to the 9-A § 2-401 finance-charge caps Source says: "Supervised Lenders Including Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Non-Mortgage Supervised Lenders, Payday Lenders, and Insurance Premium Finance Companies" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required when the finance charge exceeds 12 1/4% per year (or the loan is secured by real estate); applications via NMLS Source says: "Anyone who makes, takes assignment of, or services consumer loans in which the rate of the finance charge ... exceeds 12 1/4% per year" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) Source says: "The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection licenses and registers the following business entities" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gardiner
Before you commit to a personal loan in Gardiner, 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 Maine using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.