West Memphis at a glance
- Population: about 23,825, 22nd by size in Arkansas of 500 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 24,515 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.8% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: the 22nd-largest of 500 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 96% of Arkansas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.1496 / -90.1993, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Memphis, TN (13 mi); Horn Lake, MS (16 mi); Southaven, MS (19 mi); Bartlett, TN (22 mi); Germantown, TN (24 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Marion, AR (4 mi); Sunset, AR (5 mi); Edmondson, AR (7 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in West Memphis
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total 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.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in West Memphis
The table carries the Arkansas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in West Memphis.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in West Memphis
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in West Memphis:
- 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.