Meridian at a glance
- Population: roughly 33,551 people; 8th of 299 places in Mississippi (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 35,050 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 4.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Mississippi places: the 8th-largest of 299 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 97% of the Census places in Mississippi (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 32.3842, -88.6894 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Hattiesburg, MS (83 mi); Jackson, MS (89 mi); Tuscaloosa, AL (89 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Marion, MS (4 mi); Chunky, MS (15 mi); Enterprise, MS (16 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Meridian
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
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.
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.
Mississippi lending rules that apply in Meridian
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) Source says: "The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance's (DBCF) mission is to regulate, supervise and safeguard financial institutions chartered and licensed in Mississippi" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed-deposit (payday) fee caps | $20 per $100 advanced on checks ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 on checks over $250 (DBCF rule) Source says: "Delayed deposit transaction: $20.00 per $100.00 advanced for checks $250.00 and under" | Mississippi Secretary of State (DBCF administrative regulations) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the maximum finance charge for licensed small-loan lenders is set by Miss. Code § 75-17-21, which § 75-67-119 references as the limit; no retrievable official page published the current figure for direct verification. | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — check cashers (delayed-deposit/payday transactions) are licensed consumer-finance industries regulated by DBCF (Miss. Code § 75-67-501 et seq.) Source says: "These industries include Money Transmitter, Small Loan, Check Cashers, Pawnbroker, Title Pledge, Consumer Loan Broker" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required (Small Loan Regulatory Law; Miss. Code § 75-67-105) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending money ... without being the holder of a valid and subsisting license" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Meridian
Run through this list before signing anything in Meridian:
- 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 Mississippi using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.