Brewer at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 9,646 residents, ranking 12th of 23 places in Maine (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 9,677 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 0.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maine places: 12th out of 23 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 48% of the places in Maine (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.7845 latitude, -68.7346 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Bangor, ME (4 mi); Waterville, ME (48 mi); Augusta, ME (58 mi); Lewiston, ME (86 mi); Auburn, ME (89 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Old Town, ME (12 mi); Ellsworth, ME (19 mi); Belfast, ME (29 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Brewer
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Maine lending rules that apply in Brewer
The table carries the Maine rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Brewer.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 30% per year on unpaid balances up to $2,000; 24% on $2,000–$4,000; 18% above $4,000 (9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(2)) Source says: "30% per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is $2,000 or less" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders are licensed as supervised lenders by the BCCP and subject to the 9-A § 2-401 finance-charge caps Source says: "Supervised Lenders Including Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Non-Mortgage Supervised Lenders, Payday Lenders, and Insurance Premium Finance Companies" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required when the finance charge exceeds 12 1/4% per year (or the loan is secured by real estate); applications via NMLS Source says: "Anyone who makes, takes assignment of, or services consumer loans in which the rate of the finance charge ... exceeds 12 1/4% per year" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) Source says: "The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection licenses and registers the following business entities" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Minimum finance charge for supervised lenders | $5 (loans ≤$75), $15 ($75–<$250), $25 (≥$250) — 9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(7) Source says: "the lender may contract for and receive a minimum charge of not more than ... Twenty-five dollars when the amount financed is $250 or more" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Brewer
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Brewer:
- 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 Maine using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.