Personal loans in Gretna, LA

With 17,026 residents, Gretna outranks about 94% of the communities in Louisiana. For a borrower among the roughly 17,026 residents of Gretna, a personal loan is a tool whose cost turns on the terms, not the address. Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing in Gretna. Consumer lending that reaches Gretna's 17,026 residents is governed by Louisiana statute; no city ordinance changes it. A 2020-to-2023 comparison shows Gretna down by about 4.4%. The next larger city is New Orleans, LA about 12 miles away.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

Compare loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Gretna: population, trend and location

Most of what governs a Gretna loan is written in Louisiana law rather than in the city; the sourced notes below make that split concrete.

Population: 17,026 — Gretna ranks 18th of 302 communities in Louisiana (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
Population trend: The 2020-to-2023 change is negative, near 4.4%.
Net change: roughly 786 fewer people than the 2020 Census counted.
Size percentile: roughly 94% of Louisiana's places have fewer residents than Gretna's 17,026.
Density: roughly 4,219 residents per square mile, spread over 4.0 sq mi of land.
Land area: Gretna covers 4.0 square miles, the 92nd-largest area among Louisiana's 302 places.
Water: Gretna holds about 0.46 square miles, the 16th-largest water area in Louisiana.
Within Louisiana: about 1.0% of the state's population lives in Gretna.
National rank: Gretna is 2,146th of 19,457 places nationwide.
Growth rank: Gretna ranks 215th among Louisiana's 302 places for the 2020-to-2023 change.
Versus Louisiana: the state average change is -2.1%, while Gretna moved 4.4%.
Density rank: Gretna places 3rd among Louisiana's places by people per square mile.
Density vs Louisiana: Gretna's 4,219 people per square mile compare with a state median of 534.
Location: 29.9109, -90.0517 (Census Gazetteer coordinates).
Nearest larger cities: New Orleans (12 mi); Kenner (14 mi); Slidell (31 mi); Houma (46 mi); Hammond (48 mi). A branch is convenient; it is not what sets your APR.
Smaller communities close by: Westwego (6 mi); Harahan (9 mi); Jean Lafitte (11 mi), each with its own Census population profile.
Smaller neighbours: 19 places smaller than Gretna sit within 50 miles.
Within 100 miles: 12 places are larger than Gretna.

Which Louisiana laws govern a loan in Gretna

When Louisiana does not publish a figure, the row links to the source instead of inventing a number; Gretna is bound by the same rules.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana."	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office"	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16
Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps	36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars"	Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16

How Gretna compares across Louisiana

Among Louisiana's 302 places, Gretna sits at 18th for population, a share of roughly 1.0% of the state. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Gretna ranks 215th of 302 in Louisiana (about the 29th percentile). Its roughly 4,219 residents per square mile place it 3rd among Louisiana's places. Between 2020 and 2023 the count changed by roughly 786 residents.

Borrowing reach in Gretna

Gretna is a fairly dense community of about 17,026 people, with 5 larger places inside a 50-mile radius. What is available to Gretna's 17,026 borrowers is set by Louisiana licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. The nearest bigger place is New Orleans, LA about 12 miles away.

Steps to take before a Gretna loan

Complete these steps first when you borrow in Gretna (17,026 residents):

Get your credit reports, dispute what is wrong, and only then start shopping.
Model the payment on the calculator before a lender models it for you.
Collect three or more offers and compare them on APR, not on the advertised rate.
Confirm the lender holds a Louisiana licence by checking the regulator named above.
Write down the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before you apply.
If the balances are already a strain, seek nonprofit credit counselling before adding a loan.
Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing.

None of these steps is Gretna-specific: the same Louisiana licensing and disclosure rules reach all 17,026 residents.

How personal loans work in Gretna

With roughly 17,026 residents, Gretna is a small town; its personal loans are typically unsecured, priced from your credit rather than the city's size. A lender serving Gretna's 17,026 residents must disclose the APR and finance charge in writing before you sign. Shortening the term on a Gretna loan raises the monthly payment but cuts the interest; lengthening it does the reverse.

Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

Common questions

What are my options in Gretna if my credit is poor?

Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Gretna is the same as anywhere in Louisiana.

What loan size can I expect in Gretna?

Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.

Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Gretna?

For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.

Does comparing loans in Gretna cost me credit score points?

Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

Westwego, LA — population 8,148
Harahan, LA — population 8,719
Jean Lafitte, LA — population 1,781
New Orleans, LA — population 364,136
Kenner, LA — population 63,333
Slidell, LA — population 28,510
Mandeville, LA — population 12,999
Madisonville, LA — population 871