Ward at a glance
- Population: 6,840 people, the 56th-largest place among Arkansas's 500 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 6,062 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 12.8% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 56th largest of 500 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 89% of Arkansas's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.0138 latitude, -91.9577 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Cabot, AR (5 mi); Beebe, AR (5 mi); Jacksonville, AR (13 mi); Sherwood, AR (18 mi); Searcy, AR (20 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Austin, AR (2 mi); McRae, AR (10 mi); Garner, AR (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ward
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Ward
The table lists the Arkansas rules that apply to a loan made in Ward, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Ward
Before you share your details with a lender in Ward:
- 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.