El Paso at a glance
- Population: about 678,958 residents, ranking 6th of 1,224 Census places in Texas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 678,862 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about the same as at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 6th largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 99% of Texas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 31.8478, -106.4311 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: the closest larger place is more than 120 miles away.
- Smaller towns nearby: Sunland Park, NM (10 mi); Vinton, TX (12 mi); Anthony, TX (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in El Paso
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Texas lending rules that apply in El Paso
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in El Paso
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in El Paso:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.