Alma at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 406 residents, ranking 1,032nd of 1,224 places in Texas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 363 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 11.8% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: the 1,032nd-largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 16% of Texas's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 32.2762, -96.5432 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Rice, TX (4 mi); Ennis, TX (6 mi); Bardwell, TX (9 mi); Garrett, TX (9 mi); Palmer, TX (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Emhouse, TX (8 mi); Barry, TX (13 mi); Rosser, TX (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Alma
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Texas lending rules that apply in Alma
The table carries the Texas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Alma.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Alma
Run through this list before signing anything in Alma:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.