Bastrop at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 8,989, placing it 38th among Louisiana's 302 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 9,677 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 7.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 38th of 302 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 87% of Louisiana's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 32.7749 latitude, -91.9078 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Monroe, LA (20 mi); West Monroe, LA (23 mi); Ruston, LA (46 mi); El Dorado, AR (54 mi); Greenville, MS (65 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Collinston, LA (6 mi); Mer Rouge, LA (7 mi); Sterlington, LA (11 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Bastrop
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Bastrop
The table carries the Louisiana rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bastrop.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bastrop
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Bastrop:
- 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 Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.