Union Beach at a glance
- Population: about 5,671, 184th by size in New Jersey of 323 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 5,721 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 0.9% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 184th largest of 323 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 43% of New Jersey places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.4475 latitude, -74.1700 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Keansburg, NJ (1 mi); Keyport, NJ (2 mi); Matawan, NJ (4 mi); South Amboy, NJ (6 mi); Perth Amboy, NJ (7 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places close by: Atlantic Highlands, NJ (8 mi); Highlands, NJ (10 mi); Shrewsbury, NJ (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Union Beach
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Union Beach
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Jersey, and therefore in Union Beach.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Unlicensed payday lending violates New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates; payday lenders must be licensed Source says: "out-of-state or foreign entities that have not obtained the required New Jersey license and whose payment terms violate New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required for loans of $50,000 or less for personal, family, or household purposes (N.J.S.A. 17:11C-1 et seq.) Source says: "A consumer lender license is required for the making of a loan that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI); Office of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders Source says: "The Office of Consumer Finance regulates 16 types of businesses that provide a variety of consumer financial services." | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury limits | 30% for non-corporate borrowers; 50% for corporations Source says: "the criminal usury limitation is 50 percent for corporations and 30 percent for non-corporate borrowers" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Civil usury: rates above 6% (agreement not in writing) or above 16% (written contract specifying the rate) Source says: "the civil usury rate is any interest rate greater than 6 percent for an agreement that is not in writing" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Union Beach
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Union Beach:
- 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 New Jersey using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.