Celina at a glance
- Population: 1,399 residents, the 209th-largest of 344 places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,418 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.3% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 209th in population of 344 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 39% of places in Tennessee are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 36.5476, -85.5038.
- Nearest larger cities: Livingston, TN (15 mi); Tompkinsville, KY (15 mi); Albany, KY (23 mi); Algood, TN (24 mi); Cookeville, TN (28 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: Gainesboro, TN (15 mi); Gamaliel, KY (17 mi); Burkesville, KY (18 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Celina
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest 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.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Celina
The table lists the Tennessee rules that apply to a loan made in Celina, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Celina
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Celina:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.