Patterson at a glance
- Population: 5,636 — 54th in Louisiana, which has 302 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,932 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.0% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 54th by size among 302 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 82% of Louisiana places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 29.6909, -91.3095 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Morgan City, LA (7 mi); Franklin, LA (14 mi); Thibodaux, LA (31 mi); Donaldsonville, LA (34 mi); Houma, LA (37 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Berwick, LA (5 mi); Baldwin, LA (18 mi); Napoleonville, LA (24 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Patterson
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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.
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.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Patterson
Each row below is a Louisiana rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Patterson
Run through this list before signing anything in Patterson:
- 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 Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.