Carthage at a glance
- Population: roughly 210 people; 366th of 500 places in Arkansas (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 219 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 4.1% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 366th of the state's 500 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 27% of Arkansas's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 34.0726, -92.5553 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Leola, AR (7 mi); Prattsville, AR (17 mi); Poyen, AR (18 mi); Sheridan, AR (18 mi); Fordyce, AR (19 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Friendship, AR (28 mi); Gum Springs, AR (31 mi); Tinsman, AR (33 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Carthage
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Carthage
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 Carthage
Before you share your details with a lender in Carthage:
- 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.