Cairo at a glance
- Population: 1,558 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 527th-largest of 1,294 places in Illinois.
- 2020 Census base: 1,739 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 10.4% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 527th largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 59% of Illinois places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 37.0063, -89.1829 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Charleston, MO (10 mi); East Prairie, MO (19 mi); Sikeston, MO (24 mi); Scott City, MO (25 mi); Chaffee, MO (29 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Wyatt, MO (3 mi); Mound City, IL (6 mi); Wilson City, MO (6 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Cairo
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Cairo
The Illinois rate caps and licensing rules that reach Cairo are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cairo
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Cairo:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.