Daphne at a glance
- Population: 30,321 people, the 20th-largest place among Alabama's 462 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 27,463 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 10.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Alabama places: 20th of 462 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 96% of places in Alabama rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 30.6279 latitude, -87.8721 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Mobile, AL (14 mi); Pensacola, FL (43 mi); Biloxi, MS (65 mi); Gulfport, MS (73 mi); Hattiesburg, MS (98 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Spanish Fort, AL (7 mi); Fairhope, AL (7 mi); Loxley, AL (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Daphne
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less 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.
Alabama lending rules that apply in Daphne
Each row below is a Alabama rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Alabama Small Loan Act license required from the supervisor for loans under $1,500; interest capped at 3% per month on the first $200 and 2% per month on $200–$1,500 Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending in amounts of less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)"; "without first having obtained a license from the supervisor"; "not exceeding three percent a month on that part of the unpaid principal balance not in excess of two hundred dollars". | Alabama State Banking Department — Alabama Small Loan Act (Code of Alabama §§ 5-18-1 et seq.) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Alabama State Banking Department — Bureau of Loans (BOL) Source says: "The Bureau of Loans (hereinafter “the BOL”) was established in 1945". The BOL administers the Small Loan Act, Consumer Credit Act, Pawn Shop Act, Mortgage Brokers Licensing Act, Deferred Presentment Services Act and SAFE Act. | Alabama State Banking Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Parity lending rate provision (§ 8-8-1.1) | Any lender may charge the same rates as any federally or state-chartered or licensed lending institution in Alabama Source says: "may, on any loans or extensions of credit made by them, charge or impose the same rate of interest or finance charge". | Alabama Legislature — Code of Alabama 1975, § 8-8-1.1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum without a written contract; 8% per annum by written contract Source says: "except by written contract is $6 upon $100 for one year"; "the rate of interest by written contract is not to exceed $8 upon $100 for one year". (Code text retrieved from the Alabama Legislature's official Code of Alabama service.) | Alabama Legislature — Code of Alabama 1975, § 8-8-1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted — deferred presentment services licensed by the supervisor; maximum advance $500; maximum fee 17.5% of amount advanced Source says: "a maximum fee on any deferred presentment transaction not to exceed 17.5 percent of the amount advanced"; "The maximum amount that may be advanced in any deferred presentment transaction is five hundred dollars ($500)". | Alabama State Banking Department — Deferred Presentment Services Act (Code of Alabama §§ 5-18A-1 et seq.) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Daphne
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Daphne:
- 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 Alabama using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.