Penitas at a glance
- Population: 6,331 people, the 326th-largest place among Texas's 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 6,465 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.1% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: the 326th-largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 73% of places in Texas are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 26.2583, -98.4386 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Palmview, TX (4 mi); Mission, TX (8 mi); Alton, TX (8 mi); McAllen, TX (12 mi); Hidalgo, TX (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: La Joya, TX (2 mi); Sullivan City, TX (8 mi); Palmhurst, TX (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Penitas
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
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.
Texas lending rules that apply in Penitas
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Penitas: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Penitas
A few practical steps will make the process in Penitas less costly:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.