Fountain at a glance
- Population: roughly 182 people; 522nd of 533 places in Michigan (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 180 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 1.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Michigan places: 522nd-largest of 533 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 2% of the places in Michigan (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.0484 latitude, -86.1810 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Custer, MI (7 mi); Scottville, MI (8 mi); Ludington, MI (14 mi); Eastlake, MI (15 mi); Manistee, MI (15 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Free Soil, MI (4 mi); Harrietta, MI (30 mi); Eagle, MI (110 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fountain
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
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.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Michigan lending rules that apply in Fountain
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Michigan, and therefore in Fountain.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Source says: ""Department" means the department of insurance and financial services" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Regulated lender interest/finance charge cap | 25% per annum (Credit Reform Act, MCL 445.1854(1)) Source says: "may charge, collect, and receive any rate of interest or finance charge for an extension of credit not to exceed 25% per annum" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum maximum by written agreement; 5% legal rate (MCL 438.31) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate in writing for the payment of any rate of interest, not exceeding 7% per annum" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment service transactions (2005 PA 244; MCL 487.2121 et seq.), licensed and regulated by DIFS Source says: "AN ACT to regulate the business of providing deferred presentment service transactions; to require the licensing of providers of deferred presentment service transactions" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required from the commissioner to make regulated loans (Regulatory Loan Act, MCL 493.1 et seq.) Source says: "a person shall not engage in the business of making loans of money ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fountain
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Fountain:
- 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 Michigan using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.