Jacksonville at a glance
- Population: 17,237 residents, the 148th-largest of 1,294 places in Illinois (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 17,624 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 2.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Illinois places: the 148th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 89% of the places in Illinois (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 39.7292, -90.2322 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Springfield, IL (32 mi); Godfrey, IL (54 mi); Alton, IL (57 mi); Quincy, IL (62 mi); Florissant, MO (64 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: South Jacksonville, IL (2 mi); Lynnville, IL (7 mi); Woodson, IL (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Jacksonville
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Jacksonville
The Illinois rate caps and licensing rules that reach Jacksonville are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Jacksonville
Before you share your details with a lender in Jacksonville:
- 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.