Cale at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 75 residents, ranking 473rd of 500 places in Arkansas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 77 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.6% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: the 473rd-largest of 500 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 5% of Arkansas's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 33.6279, -93.2328.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Rosston, AR (4 mi); Willisville, AR (8 mi); Bluff City, AR (10 mi); Bodcaw, AR (10 mi); Chidester, AR (13 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: Whelen Springs, AR (15 mi); Patmos, AR (21 mi); Oakhaven, AR (23 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Cale
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Cale
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cale
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Cale:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.