Fernandina Beach at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 13,647, placing it 150th among Florida's 411 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 13,046 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 4.6% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 150th largest of 411 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 64% of the places in Florida (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 30.6581, -81.4515 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: St. Marys, GA (10 mi); Kingsland, GA (24 mi); Jacksonville, FL (25 mi); Jacksonville Beach, FL (27 mi); Brunswick, GA (33 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places close by: Atlantic Beach, FL (22 mi); Callahan, FL (24 mi); Neptune Beach, FL (24 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fernandina Beach
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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Florida lending rules that apply in Fernandina Beach
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Florida, and therefore in Fernandina Beach.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fernandina Beach
Before you share your details with a lender in Fernandina Beach:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.