Melville at a glance
- Population: 749 residents, the 178th-largest of 302 places in Louisiana (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 761 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.6% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 178th by size among 302 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 41% of Louisiana's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 30.6920, longitude -91.7505 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Fordoche, LA (10 mi); Krotz Springs, LA (11 mi); Livonia, LA (15 mi); Port Barre, LA (15 mi); New Roads, LA (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Palmetto, LA (10 mi); Morganza, LA (10 mi); Washington, LA (19 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Melville
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.
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Melville
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Melville: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Melville
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Melville:
- 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.