Waycross at a glance
- Population: roughly 13,714 people; 84th of 536 places in Georgia (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 13,944 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.6% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 84th of the state's 536 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 84% of Georgia's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 31.2110 latitude, -82.3577 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Kingsland, GA (42 mi); Brunswick, GA (53 mi); St. Marys, GA (56 mi); Valdosta, GA (60 mi); Hinesville, GA (61 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Blackshear, GA (8 mi); Hoboken, GA (14 mi); Patterson, GA (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Waycross
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.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Waycross
The table carries the Georgia rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Waycross.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Waycross
Run through this list before signing anything in Waycross:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.