Marion at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 16,852 residents, ranking 151st of 1,294 places in Illinois (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 16,856 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: stable between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 151st of the state's 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 88% of Illinois places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.7344, -88.9412 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Carbondale, IL (15 mi); Cape Girardeau, MO (45 mi); Paducah, KY (49 mi); Henderson, KY (75 mi); Belleville, IL (79 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Spillertown, IL (2 mi); Energy, IL (5 mi); Pittsburg, IL (6 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Marion
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Marion
The table lists the Illinois rules that apply to a loan made in Marion, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Marion
Before you share your details with a lender in Marion:
- 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.