Mount Sterling at a glance
- Population: about 7,571 residents, ranking 55th of 416 Census places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 7,555 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 0.2% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kentucky places: 55th in population of 416 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 87% of Kentucky's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 38.0655, longitude -83.9488 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Winchester, KY (14 mi); Paris, KY (20 mi); Lexington-Fayette, KY (28 mi); Richmond, KY (30 mi); Georgetown, KY (35 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Camargo, KY (6 mi); Jeffersonville, KY (8 mi); Sharpsburg, KY (9 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Mount Sterling
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Mount Sterling
The table carries the Kentucky rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Mount Sterling.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Mount Sterling
A few practical steps will make the process in Mount Sterling less costly:
- 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.