Havana at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 2,827, placing it 423rd among Illinois's 1,294 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,964 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 4.6% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 423rd largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 67% of Illinois places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.2951, longitude -90.0578 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Canton, IL (19 mi); Beardstown, IL (28 mi); Rushville, IL (29 mi); Pekin, IL (30 mi); Bartonville, IL (32 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Topeka, IL (7 mi); Liverpool, IL (7 mi); Bath, IL (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Havana
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Havana
The table lists the Illinois rules that apply to a loan made in Havana, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Havana
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Havana:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.