Greenbelt at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 24,360, placing it 11th among Maryland's 157 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 24,922 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.3% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maryland places: 11th in population of 157 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 93% of Maryland's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 38.9947, -76.8854 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): College Park, MD (3 mi); Laurel, MD (7 mi); Bowie, MD (8 mi); Washington, DC (9 mi); Rockville, MD (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Berwyn Heights, MD (2 mi); New Carrollton, MD (2 mi); Riverdale Park, MD (3 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Greenbelt
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Maryland lending rules that apply in Greenbelt
The table lists the Maryland rules that apply to a loan made in Greenbelt, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Lender license required to make loans under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law (Com. Law § 12-301 et seq.) Source says: "A Consumer Lender is a business that makes any loan or advance of money or credit under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Office of Financial Regulation; Commissioner of Financial Regulation (Maryland Department of Labor) Source says: "is Maryland's consumer financial protection agency and financial services regulator" | Maryland Department of Labor as of 2026-09-16 |
| OFR consumer-loan interest-rate limits | 2.75%/month (33%/yr) on the first $1,000 of a loan ≤$2,000; 2%/month (24%/yr) thereafter and on loans over $2,000 Source says: "Maximum interest rate allowed by law is 2.75% per month or an annual interest rate of 33%" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 24% per year effective simple interest for qualifying loans (Md. Code Com. Law § 12-103(c)); otherwise 8% (written agreement) or 18% Source says: "a lender may charge an effective rate of simple interest not in excess of 24 percent per year on the unpaid principal balance" | Maryland General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Regulated as consumer loans: licensing and statutory interest-rate limits apply to payday-style loans (OFR) Source says: "they are prohibited from charging or receiving an interest rate that is greater than authorized by the laws of this State" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Greenbelt
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Greenbelt:
- 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 Maryland using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.