Brownsville at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 190,158, placing it 18th among Texas's 1,224 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 186,719 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 1.8% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 18th out of 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 99% of places in Texas rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 25.9957, -97.4508 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: none within 120 miles of Brownsville by straight-line distance.
- Nearest smaller communities: Los Fresnos, TX (6 mi); Rancho Viejo, TX (7 mi); Indian Lake, TX (7 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Brownsville
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Texas lending rules that apply in Brownsville
The table lists the Texas rules that apply to a loan made in Brownsville, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Brownsville
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Brownsville:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.