Personal loans in Grafton, WV
A lender serving Grafton holds a West Virginia license and answers to a West Virginia regulator, not to any city office. An estimated 4,589 people make their home in Grafton, a figure that ranks 28th in West Virginia. Grafton shed about 3.0% of its population between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate. Which products a lender may offer locally in West Virginia follows from the state's consumer-lending framework. Compare APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in most fees. The nearest larger city is Fairmont, WV about 12 miles away.
Borrowing in Grafton: the local picture
Set out below is Grafton's local context next to the state-level rules that reach every lender here.
- Population: the Census counts 4,589 residents in Grafton (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 28th-largest figure among West Virginia's 230 places.
- Population trend: Down about 3.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate.
- Size percentile: roughly 88% of West Virginia places rank below it.
- Location: 39.3406 / -80.0161, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Fairmont (12 mi); Bridgeport (12 mi); Clarksburg (19 mi); Morgantown (21 mi); Buckhannon (27 mi). Living near a larger metro rarely changes what is available in Grafton.
- Nearest smaller places: Flemington (8 mi); Newburg (9 mi); White Hall (11 mi).
What West Virginia law requires in Grafton
Every row below records a West Virginia rule, its publisher and its retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
What a Grafton personal loan looks like
Most personal loans made to Grafton residents are unsecured, so no collateral is pledged and the lender leans on your credit history. Most scoring models treat rate-shopping within a focused window as one inquiry, so comparing offers early is usually safe. If the payment would strain your budget, a smaller loan or a longer saving period is the safer route.
A pre-application checklist for Grafton
Complete these steps first when you borrow in Grafton:
- 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 West Virginia licence by checking the regulator named above.
- Check that the monthly payment fits your budget next to your existing obligations.
Common questions
What are my options in Grafton if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Grafton?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Grafton?
Does comparing loans in Grafton cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Flemington, WV — population 304
- Newburg, WV — population 258
- Pleasant Valley, WV — population 3,483
- White Hall, WV — population 703
- Fairmont, WV — population 18,155
- Philippi, WV — population 2,904
- Rivesville, WV — population 813
- Barrackville, WV — population 1,201