Bedford at a glance
- Population: 12,767 residents, the 146th-largest of 924 places in Ohio (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 13,145 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.9% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: 146th in population of 924 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 84% of the places in Ohio (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.3921 latitude, -81.5347 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Maple Heights, OH (2 mi); Warrensville Heights, OH (3 mi); Garfield Heights, OH (4 mi); Solon, OH (5 mi); Shaker Heights, OH (6 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Bedford Heights, OH (2 mi); Walton Hills, OH (2 mi); Oakwood, OH (2 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bedford
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Bedford
Each row below is a Ohio rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bedford
Before you commit to a personal loan in Bedford, work through these steps:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.