Lake Charles at a glance
- Population: 79,633 people, the 3rd-largest place among Louisiana's 302 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 84,938 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 6.2% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 3rd of the state's 302 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 99% of Louisiana's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 30.1990, -93.2108 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Beaumont, TX (56 mi); Baytown, TX (109 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Westlake, LA (5 mi); Sulphur, LA (9 mi); Iowa, LA (12 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Lake Charles
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Lake Charles
The table lists the Louisiana rules that apply to a loan made in Lake Charles, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lake Charles
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Lake Charles:
- 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 Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.