Gretna at a glance
- Population: 17,026 — 18th in Louisiana, which has 302 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 17,812 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 4.4% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 18th by size among 302 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 94% of places in Louisiana rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 29.9109 latitude, -90.0517 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: New Orleans, LA (12 mi); Kenner, LA (14 mi); Slidell, LA (31 mi); Houma, LA (46 mi); Hammond, LA (48 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Westwego, LA (6 mi); Harahan, LA (9 mi); Jean Lafitte, LA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Gretna
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Gretna
Each row below is a Louisiana rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gretna
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Gretna:
- 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 Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.