Mount Gretna at a glance
- Population: 188 residents, the 936th-largest of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 187 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 0.5% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: the 936th-largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 8% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.2456, -76.4715.
- Nearest larger cities: Cornwall, PA (3 mi); Cleona, PA (6 mi); Manheim, PA (7 mi); Lebanon, PA (7 mi); Palmyra, PA (8 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: New Buffalo, PA (30 mi); New Morgan, PA (30 mi); Landingville, PA (32 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Mount Gretna
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Mount Gretna
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Mount Gretna are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Mount Gretna
Run through this list before signing anything in Mount Gretna:
- 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.