Ritzville at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,711, placing it 177th among Washington's 281 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,752 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.3% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 177th of 281 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 37% of places in Washington are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.1230 / -118.3753, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Warden, WA (34 mi); Davenport, WA (38 mi); Connell, WA (39 mi); Moses Lake, WA (42 mi); Othello, WA (43 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Lind, WA (15 mi); Odessa, WA (21 mi); Lamont, WA (23 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ritzville
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Washington lending rules that apply in Ritzville
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ritzville
Before you commit to a personal loan in Ritzville, work through these steps:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.