Belpre at a glance
- Population: 6,614, the 224th-largest community in Ohio out of 924 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 6,729 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.7% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: 224th of 924 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 76% of places in Ohio rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.2805, -81.5923 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Parkersburg, WV (3 mi); Vienna, WV (4 mi); Marietta, OH (13 mi); Athens, OH (27 mi); Logan, OH (47 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: North Hills, WV (5 mi); Williamstown, WV (11 mi); Coolville, OH (12 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Belpre
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, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Belpre
The table lists the Ohio rules that apply to a loan made in Belpre, each with the regulator that published it.
| 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 Belpre
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Belpre:
- 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.