Bell Gardens at a glance
- Population: 37,467 people, the 212th-largest place among California's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 39,514 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 5.2% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 212th by size among 482 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 56% of California's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.9644 latitude, -118.1544 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Downey, CA (2 mi); South Gate, CA (3 mi); Huntington Park, CA (4 mi); Lynwood, CA (4 mi); Pico Rivera, CA (4 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Cudahy, CA (2 mi); Bell, CA (2 mi); Commerce, CA (2 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Bell Gardens
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
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.
California lending rules that apply in Bell Gardens
Each row below is a California rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bell Gardens
Run through this list before signing anything in Bell Gardens:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.