Bardstown at a glance
- Population: about 13,832 residents, ranking 31st of 416 Census places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 13,565 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.0% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kentucky places: 31st by size among 416 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 93% of Kentucky places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 37.8177, -85.4553.
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Washington, KY (16 mi); Shepherdsville, KY (18 mi); Elizabethtown, KY (24 mi); Radcliff, KY (26 mi); Jeffersontown, KY (28 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: Fairfield, KY (9 mi); Bloomfield, KY (10 mi); Loretto, KY (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bardstown
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Bardstown
The table carries the Kentucky rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bardstown.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bardstown
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Bardstown:
- 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.