Palatka at a glance
- Population: about 10,730, 168th by size in Florida of 411 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 10,469 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.5% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 168th of the state's 411 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 59% of places in Florida rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 29.6449 latitude, -81.6767 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Palm Coast, FL (27 mi); St. Augustine, FL (28 mi); Gainesville, FL (40 mi); Ormond Beach, FL (42 mi); Ocala, FL (43 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Welaka, FL (11 mi); Pomona Park, FL (11 mi); Interlachen, FL (13 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Palatka
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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.
Florida lending rules that apply in Palatka
The table lists the Florida rules that apply to a loan made in Palatka, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Palatka
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Palatka:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.