Pateros at a glance
- Population: roughly 611 people; 225th of 281 places in Washington (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 592 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 3.2% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 225th by size among 281 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 20% of Washington places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 48.0531 / -119.9003, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Brewster, WA (7 mi); Bridgeport, WA (11 mi); Chelan, WA (15 mi); Twisp, WA (24 mi); Okanogan, WA (26 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Mansfield, WA (21 mi); Winthrop, WA (32 mi); Conconully, WA (36 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Pateros
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
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.
Washington lending rules that apply in Pateros
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 | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Pateros
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Pateros:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.