Berlin at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,960 people; 432nd of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,004 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.2% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 432nd in population of 1,013 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 57% of places in Pennsylvania are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 39.9215, -78.9509 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Meyersdale, PA (9 mi); Somerset, PA (9 mi); Frostburg, MD (19 mi); Cumberland, MD (21 mi); Windber, PA (23 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Shanksville, PA (7 mi); Garrett, PA (7 mi); Callimont, PA (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Berlin
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Berlin
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Berlin
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Berlin:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.