Oroville at a glance
- Population: 19,449 people, the 300th-largest place among California's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 20,106 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.3% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among California places: 300th largest of 482 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 38% of the Census places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.4954 latitude, -121.5601 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Chico, CA (23 mi); Yuba City, CA (26 mi); Lincoln, CA (45 mi); Rocklin, CA (50 mi); Roseville, CA (52 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Biggs, CA (10 mi); Gridley, CA (12 mi); Live Oak, CA (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Oroville
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
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.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
California lending rules that apply in Oroville
Each row below is a California rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Oroville
Before you share your details with a lender in Oroville:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.