Oswayo at a glance
- Population: about 130, 974th by size in Pennsylvania of 1,013 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 132 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 974th of 1,013 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 4% of Pennsylvania places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.9209, -78.0210 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Shinglehouse, PA (9 mi); Coudersport, PA (10 mi); Bolivar, NY (13 mi); Richburg, NY (14 mi); Ulysses, PA (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Driftwood, PA (40 mi); Glen Hope, PA (81 mi); Newburg, PA (82 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Oswayo
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Oswayo
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Oswayo: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Oswayo
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Oswayo:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.