San Anselmo at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 12,498 residents, ranking 349th of 482 places in California (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 12,831 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.6% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 349th by size among 482 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 28% of California's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 37.9821, -122.5699 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): San Rafael, CA (3 mi); Larkspur, CA (4 mi); Mill Valley, CA (5 mi); Novato, CA (7 mi); Richmond, CA (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Ross, CA (1 mi); Fairfax, CA (1 mi); Corte Madera, CA (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in San Anselmo
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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.
California lending rules that apply in San Anselmo
The table carries the California rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in San Anselmo.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in San Anselmo
Before you commit to a personal loan in San Anselmo, work through these steps:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.