Pinetop-Lakeside at a glance
- Population: 4,191 — 65th in Arizona, which has 91 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 4,025 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 4.1% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arizona places: 65th by size among 91 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 29% of the places in Arizona (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 34.1484, longitude -109.9660 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Show Low, AZ (9 mi); Taylor, AZ (22 mi); Snowflake, AZ (27 mi); Eagar, AZ (38 mi); Holbrook, AZ (53 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Springerville, AZ (38 mi); St. Johns, AZ (41 mi); Star Valley, AZ (72 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Pinetop-Lakeside
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Arizona lending rules that apply in Pinetop-Lakeside
The table lists the Arizona rules that apply to a loan made in Pinetop-Lakeside, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year default; any rate may be agreed in writing (other than medical debt) Source says: "interest shall be at the rate of ten percent a year, unless a different rate is contracted for in writing". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 44-1201 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday lending authorization expired June 30, 2010; DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders; consumer loans over 36% APR illegal since July 1, 2010 Source says: "The law allowing payday loans in Arizona expired on June 30, 2010. DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders." | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required from the deputy director (A.R.S. Title 6, Chapter 5); at least $25,000 in assets readily available per licensed office; license not transferable Source says: "shall not engage in the business of a consumer lender without first being licensed as a consumer lender". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-603 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Source says: "The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI)". | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer lender loan rate caps (§ 6-632) | Consumer loans: 36% per year on principal up to $3,000; for larger loans, 36% on the first $3,000 and 24% above $3,000 Source says: "a consumer loan rate of thirty-six per cent"; "a consumer loan rate of twenty-four per cent on that part of the principal amount greater than three thousand dollars". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-632 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Pinetop-Lakeside
A few practical steps will make the process in Pinetop-Lakeside 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 Arizona using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.