San Bernardino at a glance
- Population: about 223,728 residents, ranking 18th of 482 Census places in California (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 222,073 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.7% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 18th out of 482 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 96% of California places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.1411, -117.2946 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Riverside, CA (15 mi); Anaheim, CA (33 mi); Irvine, CA (42 mi); Santa Ana, CA (44 mi); Long Beach, CA (56 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Rialto, CA (6 mi); Colton, CA (6 mi); Loma Linda, CA (7 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in San Bernardino
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in San Bernardino
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving San Bernardino: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in San Bernardino
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in San Bernardino:
- 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.