Whitwell at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,612 people; 197th of 344 places in Tennessee (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,644 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 1.9% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 197th of the state's 344 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 43% of Tennessee's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.1924, longitude -85.5215 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Jasper, TN (10 mi); Signal Mountain, TN (11 mi); Walden, TN (12 mi); Red Bank, TN (14 mi); Gruetli-Laager, TN (14 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places close by: Powells Crossroads, TN (2 mi); Palmer, TN (12 mi); Kimball, TN (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Whitwell
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Whitwell
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Whitwell: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Whitwell
Run through this list before signing anything in Whitwell:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.