Penbrook at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 3,244 residents, ranking 297th of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,273 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 0.9% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 297th of the state's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 71% of places in Pennsylvania are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.2780, -76.8483 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Harrisburg, PA (2 mi); Lemoyne, PA (4 mi); New Cumberland, PA (4 mi); Steelton, PA (4 mi); Camp Hill, PA (5 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: Paxtang, PA (1 mi); Wormleysburg, PA (3 mi); Highspire, PA (6 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Penbrook
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Penbrook
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Penbrook are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Penbrook
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Penbrook:
- 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.