Village of the Branch at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,749 people; 325th of 595 places in New York (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,768 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 1.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 325th of 595 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 45% of New York places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.8534, -73.1822 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Islandia, NY (3 mi); Lake Grove, NY (3 mi); Port Jefferson, NY (9 mi); Northport, NY (9 mi); Brightwaters, NY (10 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Head of the Harbor, NY (3 mi); Nissequogue, NY (3 mi); Old Field, NY (8 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Village of the Branch
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
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.
New York lending rules that apply in Village of the Branch
Each row below is a New York rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Village of the Branch
A few practical steps will make the process in Village of the Branch 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 New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.