Othello at a glance
- Population: 8,878 residents, the 96th-largest of 281 places in Washington (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 8,546 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 3.9% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 96th by size among 281 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 66% of Washington places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.8238 latitude, -119.1631 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Moses Lake, WA (22 mi); West Richland, WA (37 mi); Richland, WA (38 mi); Pasco, WA (39 mi); Kennewick, WA (43 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Warden, WA (11 mi); Hatton, WA (16 mi); Mesa, WA (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Othello
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Washington lending rules that apply in Othello
Each row below is a Washington rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Othello
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Othello:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.