Coulee City at a glance
- Population: 551 people, the 236th-largest place among Washington's 281 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 550 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 0.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Washington places: 236th by size among 281 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 16% of the places in Washington (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.6117 latitude, -119.2895 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Soap Lake, WA (18 mi); Ephrata, WA (24 mi); Electric City, WA (24 mi); Grand Coulee, WA (26 mi); Coulee Dam, WA (29 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Hartline, WA (10 mi); Wilson Creek, WA (15 mi); Almira, WA (18 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Coulee City
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.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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.
Washington lending rules that apply in Coulee City
The Washington rate caps and licensing rules that reach Coulee City are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Coulee City
A few practical steps will make the process in Coulee City less costly:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.