Wallowa at a glance
- Population: roughly 828 people; 172nd of 240 places in Oregon (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 799 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 3.6% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Oregon places: 172nd of 240 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 28% of Oregon's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 45.5703, -117.5286 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Enterprise, OR (16 mi); Elgin, OR (19 mi); Joseph, OR (21 mi); Union, OR (30 mi); Island City, OR (30 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Lostine, OR (8 mi); Imbler, OR (22 mi); Cove, OR (23 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Wallowa
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less 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.
Oregon lending rules that apply in Wallowa
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Wallowa: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (Department of Consumer and Business Services) Source says: "Protecting Oregonians' access to fair products and services through education, regulation, and consumer assistance." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Unlicensed lending consequence (state-specific rule) | Unlicensed consumer finance loans are void and uncollectible (principal, interest, fees). Source says: "the consumer finance loan is void... may not... collect, receive or retain principal, interest, a fee or a charge related to... the consumer finance loan" (ORS 725.045(1)(b)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% per annum default legal rate where the parties have not agreed to a rate. Source says: "The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum" (ORS 82.010(1)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed payday/title lenders; term 31-60 days; one-time 10% origination fee capped at $30; interest limited to 36%/yr; max APR 153.77%. Source says: "Interest rates are limited to 36 percent annually. The maximum APR (interest and fees) is 153.77 percent"; "A one-time 10 percent loan origination fee, up to a maximum of $30 for a new loan"; "The payday or title loan must be for at least 31 days and not longer than 60 days." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required to make consumer finance loans of $50,000 or less; license issued by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Source says: "a consumer finance loan of $50,000 or less... unless the person first obtains a license under this chapter" (ORS 725.045). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Wallowa
Before you commit to a personal loan in Wallowa, 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 Oregon using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.