Sentinel at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 748, placing it 245th among Oklahoma's 590 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 763 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.0% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Oklahoma places: the 245th-largest of 590 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 58% of places in Oklahoma are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 35.1570, -99.1735 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Hobart, OK (10 mi); Burns Flat, OK (14 mi); New Cordell, OK (14 mi); Granite, OK (18 mi); Elk City, OK (22 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Rocky, OK (6 mi); Dill City, OK (9 mi); Lone Wolf, OK (12 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Sentinel
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
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.
Oklahoma lending rules that apply in Sentinel
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Oklahoma, and therefore in Sentinel.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Oklahoma Small Lender license required (Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit); separate license per location; 59 O.S. 3150-3150.27. Source says: "no person shall engage in the business of making small loans... unless the person is licensed by the Department of Consumer Credit" (59 O.S. 3150.2). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit (OKDOCC) Source says: "The Department is responsible for the regulation of consumer credit sales and consumer loans in the State of Oklahoma." | Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small loan rate and principal caps (state-specific rule) | Small loans: interest capped at 17% per month; maximum aggregated principal of $1,500 per customer across all licensees (CPI-adjusted). Source says: "A licensee may only charge and collect a periodic interest rate not to exceed seventeen percent (17%) per month" (59 O.S. 3150.10(B)); max aggregated principal is $1,500 (3150.10(C)). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum legal rate in the absence of a contract; parties may agree to any rate authorized by law. Source says: "The legal rate of interest shall be six percent (6%) in the absence of any contract as to the rate of interest" (15 O.S. 266). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited since August 1, 2020: no new deferred deposit (payday) loans may be made; all Deferred Deposit Lending Act licenses terminated. Source says: "Beginning on and after August 1, 2020, no new deferred deposit loan may be entered into or transacted by a licensee or other person" and "All Deferred Deposit Lending Act licenses shall be terminated and be deemed to have expired on August 1, 2020" (59 O.S. 3101.1). | Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, OSCN) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Sentinel
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Sentinel:
- 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 Oklahoma using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.