Poca at a glance
- Population: 864 residents, the 107th-largest of 230 places in West Virginia (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 874 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 1.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 107th out of 230 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 53% of West Virginia's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.4744 latitude, -81.8119 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Nitro, WV (4 mi); Winfield, WV (5 mi); St. Albans, WV (7 mi); Eleanor, WV (7 mi); Dunbar, WV (8 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Bancroft, WV (3 mi); Leon, WV (20 mi); West Hamlin, WV (25 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Poca
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Poca
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Poca: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Poca
Run through this list before signing anything in Poca:
- 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.