Poplar Bluff at a glance
- Population: roughly 16,132 people; 47th of 937 places in Missouri (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 16,230 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.6% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 47th of the state's 937 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 95% of Missouri's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.7633 / -90.4140, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Paragould, AR (49 mi); Cape Girardeau, MO (60 mi); Jonesboro, AR (67 mi); Farmington, MO (70 mi); Carbondale, IL (93 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Fisk, MO (12 mi); Qulin, MO (15 mi); Neelyville, MO (15 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Poplar Bluff
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Poplar Bluff
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Poplar Bluff
Before you share your details with a lender in Poplar Bluff:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.