Ste. Marie at a glance
- Population: 229 people, the 1,073rd-largest place among Illinois's 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 234 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 1,073rd-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 17% of the Census places in Illinois (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.9300 latitude, -88.0277 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Oblong, IL (8 mi); Newton, IL (8 mi); Olney, IL (14 mi); Robinson, IL (17 mi); Sumner, IL (17 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller places: Willow Hill, IL (5 mi); Stoy, IL (11 mi); Yale, IL (13 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Ste. Marie
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Ste. Marie
The Illinois rate caps and licensing rules that reach Ste. Marie are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ste. Marie
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Ste. Marie:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.