Personal loans in Paintsville, KY
Personal loans in Paintsville, Kentucky are mostly unsecured, so the APR you see reflects how a lender reads your credit. With an estimated 4,160 residents, Paintsville is the 88th-largest of 416 places in Kentucky. The trend between 2020 and 2023 is downward by roughly 3.7%. When Kentucky caps or restricts a product, lenders either change the terms or withdraw it from the state. Pull your credit reports, line up at least three offers, and model the payment before you apply. The next larger city is Pikeville, KY about 28 miles away.
Borrowing in Paintsville: the local picture
Most of what governs a Paintsville loan is written in Kentucky law rather than in the city; the sourced notes below make that split concrete.
- Population: about 4,160, ranked 88th of 416 places in Kentucky (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- Population trend: A decline of about 3.7% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison.
- Size percentile: roughly 79% of Kentucky's places have fewer residents.
- Location: 37.8203, -82.8060 (Census Gazetteer coordinates).
- Nearest larger cities: Pikeville (28 mi); Morehead (43 mi); Hazard (44 mi); Ashland (45 mi); Huntington (46 mi). A branch is convenient; it is not what sets your APR.
- Smaller places nearby: Prestonsburg (10 mi); Blaine (14 mi); Inez (15 mi).
What Kentucky law requires in Paintsville
Below are the Kentucky rules that reach a loan made in Paintsville, each with the regulator that issued it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
What a Paintsville personal loan looks like
Because a personal loan payment is fixed, the total cost is knowable in advance — the main difference from a credit card, where the balance revolves. The quoted APR tracks your credit score: an excellent file may earn a single-digit rate, while damaged credit can push the rate into the high twenties or thirties. The rate you see advertised is a range, not a promise, until a lender reviews your file.
A pre-application checklist for Paintsville
A handful of practical steps will make borrowing in Paintsville 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 Kentucky 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 Paintsville if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Paintsville?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Paintsville?
Does comparing loans in Paintsville cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Prestonsburg, KY — population 3,721
- Blaine, KY — population 68
- Allen, KY — population 177
- Martin, KY — population 486
- Salyersville, KY — population 1,525
- Inez, KY — population 515
- Louisa, KY — population 2,591
- Wayland, KY — population 377