Paintsville at a glance
- Population: 4,160 people, the 88th-largest place among Kentucky's 416 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 4,322 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Kentucky places: the 88th-largest of 416 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 79% of places in Kentucky are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.8203, -82.8060 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Pikeville, KY (28 mi); Morehead, KY (43 mi); Hazard, KY (44 mi); Ashland, KY (45 mi); Huntington, WV (46 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Prestonsburg, KY (10 mi); Blaine, KY (14 mi); Inez, KY (15 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Paintsville
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Paintsville
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Paintsville
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Paintsville:
- 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.