Meridian at a glance
- Population: 285 residents, the 573rd-largest of 595 places in New York (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 291 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.1% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 573rd in population of 595 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 4% of New York places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.1630, -76.5382 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Cato, NY (1 mi); Jordan, NY (7 mi); Weedsport, NY (8 mi); Port Byron, NY (10 mi); Elbridge, NY (10 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: Lodi, NY (41 mi); Ellisburg, NY (44 mi); Smyrna, NY (59 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Meridian
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
New York lending rules that apply in Meridian
The table lists the New York rules that apply to a loan made in Meridian, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Meridian
Before you share your details with a lender 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 New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.