Stephens at a glance
- Population: roughly 746 people; 210th of 500 places in Arkansas (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 775 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.7% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: the 210th-largest of 500 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 58% of the places in Arkansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.4209, -93.0696 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Magnolia, AR (13 mi); Waldo, AR (14 mi); Camden, AR (16 mi); Smackover, AR (20 mi); East Camden, AR (23 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: McNeil, AR (9 mi); Willisville, AR (14 mi); Louann, AR (16 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Stephens
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Stephens
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Arkansas, and therefore in Stephens.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Stephens
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Stephens:
- 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 Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.