Albany at a glance
- Population: 66,877 people, the 11th-largest place among Georgia's 536 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 69,652 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 4.0% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 11th by size among 536 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 98% of Georgia's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 31.5781 / -84.1762, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Columbus, GA (76 mi); Dothan, AL (76 mi); Warner Robins, GA (77 mi); Tallahassee, FL (78 mi); Macon-Bibb, GA (90 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Leesburg, GA (11 mi); Baconton, GA (14 mi); Sasser, GA (14 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Albany
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Albany
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Albany
Before you share your details with a lender in Albany:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.