Baldwin at a glance
- Population: 310, the 996th-largest community in Illinois out of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 315 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Illinois places: 996th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 23% of Illinois's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 38.1838, -89.8452 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Marissa, IL (6 mi); Sparta, IL (7 mi); Lenzburg, IL (7 mi); Evansville, IL (8 mi); Red Bud, IL (9 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Fayetteville, IL (14 mi); Venedy, IL (18 mi); Kaskaskia, IL (19 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Baldwin
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Baldwin
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Baldwin: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Baldwin
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Baldwin:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.