Bells at a glance
- Population: 2,475, the 148th-largest community in Tennessee out of 344 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,462 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.5% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 148th-largest of 344 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 57% of the Census places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.7197 / -89.0854, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Humboldt, TN (13 mi); Brownsville, TN (13 mi); Jackson, TN (15 mi); Medina, TN (18 mi); Trenton, TN (19 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Alamo, TN (5 mi); Gadsden, TN (7 mi); Maury City, TN (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bells
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.
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 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.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Bells
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Tennessee, and therefore in Bells.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bells
A few practical steps will make the process in Bells less costly:
- 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.