Malone at a glance
- Population: 248, the 1,124th-largest community in Texas out of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 237 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 4.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Texas places: 1,124th of 1,224 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 8% of the places in Texas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 31.9173, -96.8947.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Hubbard, TX (7 mi); Dawson, TX (11 mi); Abbott, TX (11 mi); Mount Calm, TX (11 mi); Frost, TX (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Penelope, TX (5 mi); Bynum, TX (7 mi); Mertens, TX (10 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Malone
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Texas lending rules that apply in Malone
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Texas, and therefore in Malone.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Malone
Run through this list before signing anything in Malone:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.