Sylvester at a glance
- Population: 154 — 214th in West Virginia, which has 230 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 166 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 7.2% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 214th by size among 230 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 7% of places in West Virginia rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.0105 / -81.5593, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Whitesville, WV (3 mi); Madison, WV (14 mi); Chesapeake, WV (15 mi); East Bank, WV (15 mi); Belle, WV (16 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Pax, WV (17 mi); Thurmond, WV (26 mi); Anawalt, WV (47 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Sylvester
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Sylvester
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in West Virginia, and therefore in Sylvester.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Sylvester
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Sylvester:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.