Centralia at a glance
- Population: about 11,848 residents, ranking 199th of 1,294 Census places in Illinois (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 12,178 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.7% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: the 199th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 85% of places in Illinois rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 38.5221, -89.1235.
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Vernon, IL (18 mi); Shiloh, IL (43 mi); O'Fallon, IL (43 mi); Swansea, IL (47 mi); Belleville, IL (47 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: Central City, IL (2 mi); Wamac, IL (3 mi); Junction City, IL (4 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Centralia
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Centralia
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Centralia: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Centralia
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Centralia:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.