Commerce at a glance
- Population: 8,287 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 107th-largest of 536 places in Georgia.
- 2020 Census base: 7,429 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 11.5% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 107th largest of 536 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 80% of Georgia's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 34.2143, longitude -83.4757 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Jefferson, GA (9 mi); Braselton, GA (21 mi); Gainesville, GA (21 mi); Winder, GA (21 mi); Auburn, GA (25 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Maysville, GA (5 mi); Nicholson, GA (7 mi); Homer, GA (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Commerce
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the 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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Commerce
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Commerce
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Commerce:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.