Tatum at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,377, placing it 714th among Texas's 1,224 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,341 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 2.7% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 714th-largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 42% of places in Texas rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 32.3159 / -94.5189, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Hallsville, TX (13 mi); Carthage, TX (16 mi); Marshall, TX (18 mi); Henderson, TX (20 mi); Longview, TX (20 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Beckville, TX (6 mi); Easton, TX (6 mi); Lakeport, TX (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Tatum
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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 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.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Texas lending rules that apply in Tatum
The table carries the Texas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Tatum.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Tatum
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Tatum:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.