Apalachicola at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 2,412 residents, ranking 278th of 411 places in Florida (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 2,333 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 3.4% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 278th in population of 411 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 32% of the Census places in Florida (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 29.7274, -84.9940 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Port St. Joe, FL (20 mi); Callaway, FL (43 mi); Parker, FL (46 mi); Springfield, FL (48 mi); Panama City, FL (51 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Carrabelle, FL (21 mi); Mexico Beach, FL (29 mi); Wewahitchka, FL (30 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Apalachicola
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Florida lending rules that apply in Apalachicola
The table carries the Florida rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Apalachicola.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Apalachicola
Before you share your details with a lender in Apalachicola:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.