Fountain Valley at a glance
- Population: 55,468, the 161st-largest community in California out of 482 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 57,052 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.8% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 161st by size among 482 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 67% of California's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.7106, -117.9511 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Huntington Beach, CA (3 mi); Westminster, CA (4 mi); Costa Mesa, CA (4 mi); Santa Ana, CA (4 mi); Garden Grove, CA (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Stanton, CA (7 mi); Seal Beach, CA (8 mi); Los Alamitos, CA (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fountain Valley
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.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
California lending rules that apply in Fountain Valley
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in California, and therefore in Fountain Valley.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fountain Valley
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Fountain Valley:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.