Cato at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 530 residents, ranking 516th of 595 places in New York (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 546 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.9% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 516th by size among 595 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 13% of places in New York rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.1656, -76.5675 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Weedsport, NY (8 mi); Jordan, NY (8 mi); Port Byron, NY (9 mi); Hannibal, NY (11 mi); Elbridge, NY (11 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Meridian, NY (1 mi); Red Creek, NY (10 mi); Cayuga, NY (19 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Cato
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
New York lending rules that apply in Cato
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New York, and therefore in Cato.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cato
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Cato:
- 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 New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.