West View at a glance
- Population: 6,437 — 136th in Pennsylvania, which has 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 6,688 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 3.8% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: the 136th-largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 87% of places in Pennsylvania are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.5182, -80.0333 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Bellevue, PA (2 mi); Franklin Park, PA (6 mi); Pittsburgh, PA (6 mi); Carnegie, PA (8 mi); Dormont, PA (9 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Ben Avon Heights, PA (2 mi); Avalon, PA (2 mi); Ben Avon, PA (3 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in West View
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in West View
The table carries the Pennsylvania rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in West View.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in West View
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in West View:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.