Poteau at a glance
- Population: 9,075 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 50th-largest of 590 places in Oklahoma.
- 2020 Census base: 8,805 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 3.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Oklahoma places: 50th by size among 590 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 92% of places in Oklahoma rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 35.0667, -94.6103 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Greenwood, AR (23 mi); Fort Smith, AR (24 mi); Van Buren, AR (30 mi); Tahlequah, OK (62 mi); Muskogee, OK (63 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Shady Point, OK (5 mi); Cameron, OK (6 mi); Panama, OK (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Poteau
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Oklahoma lending rules that apply in Poteau
Each row below is a Oklahoma rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum legal rate in the absence of a contract; parties may agree to any rate authorized by law. Source says: "The legal rate of interest shall be six percent (6%) in the absence of any contract as to the rate of interest" (15 O.S. 266). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited since August 1, 2020: no new deferred deposit (payday) loans may be made; all Deferred Deposit Lending Act licenses terminated. Source says: "Beginning on and after August 1, 2020, no new deferred deposit loan may be entered into or transacted by a licensee or other person" and "All Deferred Deposit Lending Act licenses shall be terminated and be deemed to have expired on August 1, 2020" (59 O.S. 3101.1). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Oklahoma Small Lender license required (Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit); separate license per location; 59 O.S. 3150-3150.27. Source says: "no person shall engage in the business of making small loans... unless the person is licensed by the Department of Consumer Credit" (59 O.S. 3150.2). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit (OKDOCC) Source says: "The Department is responsible for the regulation of consumer credit sales and consumer loans in the State of Oklahoma." | Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small loan rate and principal caps (state-specific rule) | Small loans: interest capped at 17% per month; maximum aggregated principal of $1,500 per customer across all licensees (CPI-adjusted). Source says: "A licensee may only charge and collect a periodic interest rate not to exceed seventeen percent (17%) per month" (59 O.S. 3150.10(B)); max aggregated principal is $1,500 (3150.10(C)). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Poteau
Run through this list before signing anything in Poteau:
- 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 Oklahoma using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.