Smiths Grove at a glance
- Population: 795 — 236th in Kentucky, which has 416 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 754 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 5.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kentucky places: 236th-largest of 416 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 43% of places in Kentucky are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 37.0502, -86.2081 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Brownsville, KY (10 mi); Bowling Green, KY (13 mi); Cave City, KY (15 mi); Glasgow, KY (16 mi); Horse Cave, KY (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Oakland, KY (2 mi); Park City, KY (9 mi); Plum Springs, KY (10 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Smiths Grove
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.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Smiths Grove
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Smiths Grove
Before you commit to a personal loan in Smiths Grove, 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.