Whitefish Bay at a glance
- Population: about 14,553, 63rd by size in Wisconsin of 605 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 14,951 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 63rd of the state's 605 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 90% of Wisconsin's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.1131 latitude, -87.9005 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Milwaukee, WI (5 mi); Wauwatosa, WI (8 mi); Mequon, WI (9 mi); West Allis, WI (10 mi); Brookfield, WI (11 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places nearby: Glendale, WI (2 mi); Shorewood, WI (2 mi); Fox Point, WI (3 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Whitefish Bay
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Whitefish Bay
The Wisconsin rate caps and licensing rules that reach Whitefish Bay are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Whitefish Bay
Before you commit to a personal loan in Whitefish Bay, 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.