Personal loans in Fredonia, PA
When you compare personal loans in Fredonia, Pennsylvania, the figure to hold side by side is the APR, not the advertised rate. Fredonia ranks 792nd of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania, with a population near 425. From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population declined by about 2.3%. When Pennsylvania caps or restricts a product, lenders either change the terms or withdraw it from the state. Judge offers on total cost, not on how quickly the money arrives. For a bigger market, look to Mercer, PA about 7 miles away.
Borrowing in Fredonia: the local picture
Most of what governs a Fredonia loan is written in Pennsylvania law rather than in the city; the sourced notes below make that split concrete.
- Population: about 425 people live here, which puts Fredonia 792nd of 1,013 Census places in Pennsylvania (Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: A decline of about 2.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison.
- Size percentile: roughly 22% of Pennsylvania places rank below it.
- Location: 41.3219, -80.2581 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Mercer (7 mi); Stoneboro (7 mi); Clark (8 mi); Greenville (9 mi); Sandy Lake (9 mi). Any of them may have more branches, but statewide rules and your credit still set the price.
- Nearest smaller places: Jackson Center (7 mi); Sheakleyville (9 mi); New Lebanon (11 mi).
What Pennsylvania law requires in Fredonia
When the state does not publish a figure, the row links to the source instead of inventing a number.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
What a Fredonia personal loan looks like
Most personal loans made to Fredonia residents are unsecured, so no collateral is pledged and the lender leans on your credit history. The familiar mistake is to move a card balance into a personal loan and then run the cards back up, which doubles the debt instead of clearing it. If the payment would strain your budget, a smaller loan or a longer saving period is the safer route.
A pre-application checklist for Fredonia
A sensible order of operations for a loan in Fredonia:
- Order your free credit reports and dispute anything inaccurate — it is the cheapest way to move the rate you are offered.
- Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
- Pre-qualify with three or more lenders, then compare the APR rather than the interest rate.
- Confirm the lender holds a Pennsylvania licence by checking the regulator named above.
- Do not borrow more than the expense calls for, even if a lender approves a larger amount.
Common questions
What are my options in Fredonia if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Fredonia?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Fredonia?
Does comparing loans in Fredonia cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Mercer, PA — population 1,933
- Jackson Center, PA — population 187
- Sheakleyville, PA — population 146
- Stoneboro, PA — population 931
- Clark, PA — population 562
- Greenville, PA — population 5,484
- Sandy Lake, PA — population 633
- New Lebanon, PA — population 185