Earlington at a glance
- Population: about 1,249 residents, ranking 185th of 416 Census places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,262 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.0% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kentucky places: 185th of the state's 416 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 56% of Kentucky's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 37.2752, longitude -87.5061 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Madisonville, KY (5 mi); Dawson Springs, KY (12 mi); Providence, KY (16 mi); Greenville, KY (19 mi); Central City, KY (21 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Mortons Gap, KY (3 mi); St. Charles, KY (6 mi); Nortonville, KY (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Earlington
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.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Earlington
The table carries the Kentucky rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Earlington.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Earlington
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Earlington:
- 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.