Swansea at a glance
- Population: roughly 14,472 people; 170th of 1,294 places in Illinois (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 14,380 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.6% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: the 170th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 87% of Illinois's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.5518 / -89.9875, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Belleville, IL (2 mi); Fairview Heights, IL (3 mi); Shiloh, IL (4 mi); O'Fallon, IL (5 mi); Collinsville, IL (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Caseyville, IL (6 mi); Washington Park, IL (8 mi); Millstadt, IL (8 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Swansea
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Swansea
The table lists the Illinois rules that apply to a loan made in Swansea, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Swansea
Before you commit to a personal loan in Swansea, 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.