Rockland at a glance
- Population: roughly 7,031 people; 19th of 23 places in Maine (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 6,941 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 1.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maine places: 19th-largest of 23 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 17% of places in Maine rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.1239, -69.1305 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Belfast, ME (21 mi); Augusta, ME (33 mi); Bath, ME (38 mi); Waterville, ME (39 mi); Ellsworth, ME (45 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Gardiner, ME (33 mi); Hallowell, ME (36 mi); Calais, ME (117 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Rockland
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
Maine lending rules that apply in Rockland
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Maine, and therefore in Rockland.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 30% per year on unpaid balances up to $2,000; 24% on $2,000–$4,000; 18% above $4,000 (9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(2)) Source says: "30% per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is $2,000 or less" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders are licensed as supervised lenders by the BCCP and subject to the 9-A § 2-401 finance-charge caps Source says: "Supervised Lenders Including Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Non-Mortgage Supervised Lenders, Payday Lenders, and Insurance Premium Finance Companies" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required when the finance charge exceeds 12 1/4% per year (or the loan is secured by real estate); applications via NMLS Source says: "Anyone who makes, takes assignment of, or services consumer loans in which the rate of the finance charge ... exceeds 12 1/4% per year" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) Source says: "The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection licenses and registers the following business entities" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Minimum finance charge for supervised lenders | $5 (loans ≤$75), $15 ($75–<$250), $25 (≥$250) — 9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(7) Source says: "the lender may contract for and receive a minimum charge of not more than ... Twenty-five dollars when the amount financed is $250 or more" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Rockland
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Rockland:
- 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 Maine using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.