Howard at a glance
- Population: about 659 residents, ranking 703rd of 1,013 Census places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 679 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.9% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: the 703rd-largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 31% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.0114, -77.6573 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Beech Creek, PA (6 mi); Milesburg, PA (8 mi); Bellefonte, PA (9 mi); Mill Hall, PA (11 mi); Centre Hall, PA (12 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Unionville, PA (14 mi); Snow Shoe, PA (15 mi); Loganton, PA (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Howard
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Howard
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Howard are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Howard
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Howard:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.