Pen Argyl at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 3,462 residents, ranking 281st of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 3,515 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 1.5% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 281st of the state's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 72% of Pennsylvania's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.8678, longitude -75.2539 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Wind Gap, PA (2 mi); Bangor, PA (2 mi); Stroudsburg, PA (9 mi); Nazareth, PA (9 mi); East Stroudsburg, PA (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Roseto, PA (2 mi); East Bangor, PA (4 mi); Stockertown, PA (8 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Pen Argyl
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Pen Argyl
The table carries the Pennsylvania rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Pen Argyl.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Pen Argyl
A few practical steps will make the process in Pen Argyl less costly:
- 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.