Putnam at a glance
- Population: about 68 residents, ranking 1,214th of 1,224 Census places in Texas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 64 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 6.2% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 1,214th by size among 1,224 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 1% of Texas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 32.3703, -99.1955 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Baird, TX (12 mi); Moran, TX (12 mi); Cisco, TX (13 mi); Cross Plains, TX (17 mi); Clyde, TX (18 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Impact, TX (33 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Putnam
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Texas lending rules that apply in Putnam
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Texas, and therefore in Putnam.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Putnam
Before you share your details with a lender in Putnam:
- 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.