Bradford at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 7,560, placing it 111th among Pennsylvania's 1,013 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 7,842 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.6% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 111th of the state's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 89% of the Census places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 41.9610, -78.6409 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Olean, NY (14 mi); Warren, PA (27 mi); Jamestown, NY (32 mi); St. Marys, PA (36 mi); Fredonia, NY (48 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Lewis Run, PA (6 mi); Allegany, NY (12 mi); Eldred, PA (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bradford
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Bradford
The table lists the Pennsylvania rules that apply to a loan made in Bradford, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bradford
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Bradford:
- 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.