Tatums at a glance
- Population: 117, the 490th-largest community in Oklahoma out of 590 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 115 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 1.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Oklahoma places: 490th of 590 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 17% of places in Oklahoma are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 34.4776, -97.4646.
- Nearest larger cities: Foster, OK (9 mi); Katie, OK (11 mi); Elmore City, OK (11 mi); Velma, OK (11 mi); Davis, OK (17 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Ratliff City, OK (3 mi); Loco, OK (16 mi); Cornish, OK (23 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Tatums
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Oklahoma lending rules that apply in Tatums
The table carries the Oklahoma rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Tatums.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Tatums
A few practical steps will make the process in Tatums less costly:
- 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.