Hartford at a glance
- Population: 1,157, the 605th-largest community in Illinois out of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,188 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.6% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 605th in population of 1,294 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 53% of the Census places in Illinois (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.8131, -90.0921 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: South Roxana, IL (2 mi); Roxana, IL (3 mi); Wood River, IL (4 mi); East Alton, IL (5 mi); Edwardsville, IL (6 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller places: West Alton, MO (7 mi); Flordell Hills, MO (11 mi); Brooklyn, IL (12 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Hartford
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.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would 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.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Hartford
The Illinois rate caps and licensing rules that reach Hartford are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Hartford
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Hartford:
- 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.