Wellsburg at a glance
- Population: 2,302, the 52nd-largest community in West Virginia out of 230 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 2,452 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 6.1% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 52nd in population of 230 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 77% of West Virginia's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.2809, -80.6106 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Mingo Junction, OH (3 mi); Follansbee, WV (4 mi); Steubenville, OH (6 mi); Wintersville, OH (9 mi); Weirton, WV (9 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: New Alexandria, OH (3 mi); Beech Bottom, WV (5 mi); Bethany, WV (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Wellsburg
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Wellsburg
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Wellsburg
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Wellsburg:
- 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.