Friendship at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 159 residents, ranking 399th of 500 places in Arkansas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 159 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: no meaningful change since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 399th by size among 500 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 20% of Arkansas's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 34.2243, -93.0037.
- Nearest larger cities: Midway, AR (2 mi); Donaldson, AR (5 mi); Caddo Valley, AR (6 mi); Arkadelphia, AR (8 mi); Malvern, AR (15 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Gum Springs, AR (12 mi); Okolona, AR (25 mi); Lonsdale, AR (25 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Friendship
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the 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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Friendship
The table carries the Arkansas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Friendship.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Friendship
Before you commit to a personal loan in Friendship, work through these steps:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.