Pocahontas at a glance
- Population: about 680, 757th by size in Illinois of 1,294 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 700 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 2.9% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Illinois places: 757th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 41% of Illinois's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 38.8244, -89.5388.
- Nearest larger cities: Highland, IL (9 mi); Greenville, IL (9 mi); Marine, IL (13 mi); St. Jacob, IL (14 mi); Aviston, IL (14 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Pierron, IL (4 mi); Old Ripley, IL (5 mi); Grantfork, IL (7 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Pocahontas
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Pocahontas
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Illinois, and therefore in Pocahontas.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Pocahontas
A few practical steps will make the process in Pocahontas 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.