San Antonio at a glance
- Population: about 1,495,295, 2nd by size in Texas of 1,224 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,434,306 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 4.3% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Texas places: 2nd of 1,224 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 99% of Texas's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 29.4628, -98.5246 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: there is no larger Census place within 120 miles.
- Nearest smaller towns: Balcones Heights, TX (2 mi); Olmos Park, TX (2 mi); Alamo Heights, TX (4 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in San Antonio
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Texas lending rules that apply in San Antonio
The table carries the Texas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in San Antonio.
| 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 San Antonio
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in San Antonio:
- 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.