Austin at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 4,027, placing it 81st among Arkansas's 500 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 3,459 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 16.4% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 81st out of 500 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 84% of Arkansas's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 35.0059, -91.9896.
- Nearest larger cities: Ward, AR (2 mi); Cabot, AR (3 mi); Beebe, AR (7 mi); Jacksonville, AR (12 mi); Vilonia, AR (14 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: McRae, AR (12 mi); Garner, AR (15 mi); Mount Vernon, AR (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Austin
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Austin
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Arkansas, and therefore in Austin.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Austin
Run through this list before signing anything in Austin:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.