Cardington at a glance
- Population: 2,101 residents, the 392nd-largest of 924 places in Ohio (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,079 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 1.1% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Ohio places: 392nd out of 924 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 58% of places in Ohio rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.4980, -82.8936.
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Gilead, OH (5 mi); Marion, OH (14 mi); Sunbury, OH (17 mi); Delaware, OH (17 mi); Galion, OH (18 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Fulton, OH (4 mi); Edison, OH (4 mi); Ashley, OH (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Cardington
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Cardington
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Cardington: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cardington
Before you share your details with a lender in Cardington:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.