Parkersburg at a glance
- Population: roughly 29,025 people; 4th of 230 places in West Virginia (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 29,741 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.4% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 4th largest of 230 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 98% of the Census places in West Virginia (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.2613, -81.5434 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Charleston, WV (63 mi); Lancaster, OH (65 mi); Newark, OH (73 mi); Huntington, WV (76 mi); Reynoldsburg, OH (82 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places nearby: Belpre, OH (3 mi); North Hills, WV (4 mi); Vienna, WV (4 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Parkersburg
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
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.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Parkersburg
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Parkersburg: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Parkersburg
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Parkersburg:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.