Hattiesburg at a glance
- Population: 48,414 residents, the 4th-largest of 299 places in Mississippi (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 48,729 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Mississippi places: 4th largest of 299 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 99% of Mississippi's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 31.3073 / -89.3174, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Gulfport, MS (63 mi); Mobile, AL (84 mi); Jackson, MS (87 mi); New Orleans, LA (94 mi); Kenner, LA (106 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Petal, MS (6 mi); Purvis, MS (12 mi); Sumrall, MS (15 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Hattiesburg
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
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.
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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Mississippi lending rules that apply in Hattiesburg
The table lists the Mississippi rules that apply to a loan made in Hattiesburg, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed-deposit (payday) fee caps | $20 per $100 advanced on checks ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 on checks over $250 (DBCF rule) Source says: "Delayed deposit transaction: $20.00 per $100.00 advanced for checks $250.00 and under" | Mississippi Secretary of State (DBCF administrative regulations) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the maximum finance charge for licensed small-loan lenders is set by Miss. Code § 75-17-21, which § 75-67-119 references as the limit; no retrievable official page published the current figure for direct verification. | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — check cashers (delayed-deposit/payday transactions) are licensed consumer-finance industries regulated by DBCF (Miss. Code § 75-67-501 et seq.) Source says: "These industries include Money Transmitter, Small Loan, Check Cashers, Pawnbroker, Title Pledge, Consumer Loan Broker" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required (Small Loan Regulatory Law; Miss. Code § 75-67-105) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending money ... without being the holder of a valid and subsisting license" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) Source says: "The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance's (DBCF) mission is to regulate, supervise and safeguard financial institutions chartered and licensed in Mississippi" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Hattiesburg
Run through this list before signing anything in Hattiesburg:
- 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 Mississippi using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.