Brightwaters at a glance
- Population: 3,169, the 223rd-largest community in New York out of 595 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,188 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.6% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 223rd of the state's 595 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 63% of places in New York are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.7164, -73.2615 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Babylon, NY (4 mi); Lindenhurst, NY (6 mi); Islandia, NY (8 mi); Amityville, NY (9 mi); Farmingdale, NY (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Saltaire, NY (6 mi); Ocean Beach, NY (7 mi); Village of the Branch, NY (10 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Brightwaters
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
New York lending rules that apply in Brightwaters
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New York, and therefore in Brightwaters.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Brightwaters
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Brightwaters:
- 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 New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.