Bellaire at a glance
- Population: roughly 3,763 people; 292nd of 924 places in Ohio (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 3,875 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.9% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: 292nd largest of 924 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 68% of Ohio's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.0165 latitude, -80.7473 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Wheeling, WV (5 mi); Martins Ferry, OH (6 mi); Moundsville, WV (7 mi); St. Clairsville, OH (9 mi); Barnesville, OH (23 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Benwood, WV (1 mi); McMechen, WV (2 mi); Shadyside, OH (3 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Bellaire
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Bellaire
The table carries the Ohio rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bellaire.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bellaire
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Bellaire:
- 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.