St. Marys at a glance
- Population: 8,377 residents, the 196th-largest of 924 places in Ohio (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 8,406 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.3% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Ohio places: 196th by size among 924 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 79% of places in Ohio are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.5476, -84.3923.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Celina, OH (9 mi); Wapakoneta, OH (11 mi); Lima, OH (20 mi); Sidney, OH (21 mi); Van Wert, OH (24 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: New Knoxville, OH (5 mi); New Bremen, OH (8 mi); Buckland, OH (9 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in St. Marys
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Ohio lending rules that apply in St. Marys
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in St. Marys
Run through this list before signing anything in St. Marys:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.