Oblong at a glance
- Population: about 1,345, 570th by size in Illinois of 1,294 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,373 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 2.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Illinois places: 570th in population of 1,294 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 56% of the Census places in Illinois (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.0023, -87.9105 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Robinson, IL (10 mi); Newton, IL (14 mi); Sumner, IL (20 mi); Olney, IL (21 mi); Casey, IL (21 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Stoy, IL (4 mi); Willow Hill, IL (6 mi); Ste. Marie, IL (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Oblong
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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 Oblong
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Oblong
A few practical steps will make the process in Oblong 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.