West Richland at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 18,456 residents, ranking 61st of 281 places in Washington (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 16,301 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 13.2% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 61st out of 281 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 78% of Washington places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 46.3138, -119.3878 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Richland, WA (5 mi); Kennewick, WA (13 mi); Pasco, WA (13 mi); Hermiston, OR (34 mi); Walla Walla, WA (53 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Benton City, WA (6 mi); Prosser, WA (20 mi); Grandview, WA (25 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in West Richland
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.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Washington lending rules that apply in West Richland
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) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in West Richland
Before you commit to a personal loan in West Richland, work through these steps:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.