Smethport at a glance
- Population: 1,386 people, the 521st-largest place among Pennsylvania's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,436 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 3.5% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 521st by size among 1,013 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 49% of Pennsylvania's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 41.8084, -78.4447 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Port Allegany, PA (9 mi); Bradford, PA (15 mi); Olean, NY (19 mi); Allegany, NY (20 mi); Kane, PA (21 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: Eldred, PA (11 mi); Mount Jewett, PA (11 mi); Lewis Run, PA (12 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Smethport
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
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.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Smethport
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Smethport are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Smethport
Before you commit to a personal loan in Smethport, 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.