Wilkes-Barre at a glance
- Population: 44,254 residents, the 11th-largest of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 44,325 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.2% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 11th of the state's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 99% of Pennsylvania's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 41.2466, -75.8757.
- Nearest larger cities: Scranton, PA (15 mi); Allentown, PA (50 mi); Bethlehem, PA (50 mi); Binghamton, NY (59 mi); Reading, PA (63 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Kingston, PA (1 mi); Edwardsville, PA (2 mi); Forty Fort, PA (2 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Wilkes-Barre
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 APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Wilkes-Barre
The table carries the Pennsylvania rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Wilkes-Barre.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Wilkes-Barre
Before you share your details with a lender in Wilkes-Barre:
- 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.