Sterling at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 669, placing it 266th among Oklahoma's 590 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 671 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 0.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Oklahoma places: the 266th-largest of 590 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 55% of places in Oklahoma are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 34.7494, -98.1725.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Fletcher, OK (6 mi); Elgin, OK (7 mi); Cyril, OK (10 mi); Central High, OK (10 mi); Rush Springs, OK (12 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Cement, OK (13 mi); Medicine Park, OK (18 mi); Norge, OK (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Sterling
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Oklahoma lending rules that apply in Sterling
The Oklahoma rate caps and licensing rules that reach Sterling are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Sterling
Before you commit to a personal loan in Sterling, 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 Oklahoma using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.