Bell Buckle at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 420 residents, ranking 299th of 344 places in Tennessee (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 413 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 1.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 299th of 344 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 13% of places in Tennessee rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 35.5908, -86.3538 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Wartrace, TN (5 mi); Shelbyville, TN (8 mi); Tullahoma, TN (17 mi); Manchester, TN (18 mi); Murfreesboro, TN (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Normandy, TN (11 mi); Centertown, TN (26 mi); Viola, TN (28 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Bell Buckle
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Bell Buckle
Each row below is a Tennessee rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bell Buckle
Run through this list before signing anything in Bell Buckle:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.