Friday Harbor at a glance
- Population: roughly 2,736 people; 148th of 281 places in Washington (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,612 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 4.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 148th largest of 281 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 47% of places in Washington rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 48.5339, -123.0190.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Anacortes, WA (18 mi); Oak Harbor, WA (24 mi); Bellingham, WA (29 mi); Ferndale, WA (29 mi); Port Townsend, WA (30 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: La Conner, WA (26 mi); Coupeville, WA (27 mi); Nooksack, WA (42 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Friday Harbor
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Washington lending rules that apply in Friday Harbor
Each row below is a Washington rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Friday Harbor
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Friday Harbor:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.