Personal loans in Ketchikan, AK
Borrowers in Ketchikan, Alaska usually turn to personal loans for a few reasons: to fold card balances together, to cover a repair, or to bridge a short gap. An estimated 8,079 people make their home in Ketchikan, a figure that ranks 6th in Alaska. Census figures put the 2020-to-2023 decrease at about 1.4%. Lenders active in Alaska report to a state supervisor, identified in the sourced rows below. Price two or three terms so you can see which payment is truly affordable. There is no bigger city within 120 miles of Ketchikan.
Borrowing in Ketchikan: the local picture
Here is the sourced Census picture for Ketchikan, plus the Alaska lending rules that apply to a loan taken out here.
- Population: 8,079 people, a figure that places Ketchikan 6th among the 149 Census places in Alaska (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: A loss of roughly 1.4% between 2020 and 2023.
- Size percentile: roughly 96% of Alaska's places have fewer residents.
- Location: it lies at 55.3571, -131.6746 in the Census Gazetteer.
- Nearest smaller places: Saxman (4 mi); Kasaan (32 mi); Thorne Bay (40 mi).
What Alaska law requires in Ketchikan
Each figure in the table below carries a publisher and a date; where the state publishes nothing, we point to the source rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.5% per annum default; by contract, the greater of 10% or 5 percentage points above the 12th Federal Reserve District advance rate (loans over $25,000 exempt) Source says: "The rate of interest in the state is 10.5 percent a year and no more on money after it is due"; "more than the greater of 10 percent or five percentage points above the annual rate charged member banks for advances by the 12th Federal Reserve District". | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes § 45.45.010 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted — licensed deferred deposit advances; max $500 outstanding per borrower; origination fee ≤$5; fee ≤$15 per $100 or 15%; minimum 14-day term Source says: "may not make advances to an advance recipient that exceed $500 outstanding in advances to the recipient at one time"; "a fee that does not exceed $15 for each $100 of an advance, or 15 percent of the total amount of the advance". | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes §§ 06.50.410, 06.50.460 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required from the department to make loans of $25,000 or less at above-legal rates; $25,000 liquid assets and $25,000 bond required Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the department"; "liquid assets of at least $25,000". | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes §§ 06.20.010, 06.20.040 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (Division of Banking and Securities) Source says: "department means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development". The Division of Banking and Securities (commerce.alaska.gov/web/dbs) administers the department's lending license programs. | Alaska Legislature — Alaska Statutes § 06.50.900(5) as of 2026-09-16 |
What a Ketchikan personal loan looks like
A personal loan in Ketchikan is an installment loan: a lump sum up front, repaid in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years. Only when you accept an offer and finish a full application does the lender run a hard inquiry, which may cost a few points for a short time. Borrowing is a decision to make calmly, not one to rush.
A pre-application checklist for Ketchikan
A handful of practical steps will make borrowing in Ketchikan less expensive:
- 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 Alaska 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 Ketchikan if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Ketchikan?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Ketchikan?
Does comparing loans in Ketchikan cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Saxman, AK — population 382
- Kasaan, AK — population 30
- Wrangell city and, AK — population 2,064
- Thorne Bay, AK — population 470
- Hydaburg, AK — population 375
- Coffman Cove, AK — population 125
- Klawock, AK — population 710
- Craig, AK — population 1,041