Patterson at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 294 residents, ranking 328th of 500 places in Arkansas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 310 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.2% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 328th by size among 500 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 34% of Arkansas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 35.2590, -91.2350.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): McCrory, AR (2 mi); Augusta, AR (7 mi); Bradford, AR (17 mi); Cotton Plant, AR (18 mi); Bald Knob, AR (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Tupelo, AR (9 mi); Weldon, AR (13 mi); Beedeville, AR (14 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Patterson
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Patterson
The table carries the Arkansas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Patterson.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Patterson
Before you commit to a personal loan in Patterson, work through these steps:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.