Bigelow at a glance
- Population: about 358 residents, ranking 305th of 500 Census places in Arkansas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 352 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 1.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 305th in population of 500 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 39% of Arkansas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.9978, -92.6312 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Perryville, AR (10 mi); Conway, AR (11 mi); Oppelo, AR (11 mi); Plumerville, AR (11 mi); Mayflower, AR (12 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Fourche, AR (1 mi); Houston, AR (4 mi); Perry, AR (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bigelow
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Bigelow
The table lists the Arkansas rules that apply to a loan made in Bigelow, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bigelow
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Bigelow:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.