Personal loans in Franklin, AR

Two households in Franklin with comparable incomes can still be offered different rates; the city's 198 residents are not the reason. Franklin is home to roughly 198 people and stands 372nd by size out of 500 Census places in Arkansas.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population rose by about 4.2%. Get pre-qualified with several lenders, then compare APR rather than the headline rate for a Franklin loan. A larger market lies at Horseshoe Bend, AR about 4 miles away. A single loan can carry different costs on either side of a state line, and Franklin sits on the Arkansas side of that line.

What the Census records for Franklin

What follows is Franklin's place in the Census record, alongside the Arkansas rules that govern a personal loan made here.

Population: the Census counts 198 residents in Franklin (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 372nd-largest figure among Arkansas's 500 places.
Population trend: A gain of roughly 4.2% between 2020 and 2023.
Net change: roughly 8 more people than the 2020 Census counted.
Size percentile: roughly 26% of Arkansas places rank below Franklin.
Population density: about 93 people per square mile (Census land area 2.1 sq mi).
By land area: Franklin ranks 243rd among Arkansas's 500 places, at 2.1 sq mi.
State population share: Franklin accounts for about 0.0% of everyone in Arkansas.
National rank: Franklin sits 16,522nd by population among the 19,457 places in this dataset.
Growth rank: Franklin's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 60th of 500 places in Arkansas.
State comparison: Arkansas's places average +0.3% for 2020-to-2023, against Franklin's 4.2%.
Density in Arkansas: Franklin ranks 458th by people per square mile.
Against the state median: Franklin runs about 93 residents per square mile, where the Arkansas median is 386.
Location: 36.1727, -91.7697 (Census Gazetteer coordinates).
Nearest larger cities: Horseshoe Bend (4 mi); Oxford (9 mi); Melbourne (10 mi); Ash Flat (10 mi); Evening Shade (11 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Franklin whether or not they keep a local branch.
Smaller places close by: Sidney (13 mi); Pineville (19 mi); Guion (19 mi).
Smaller neighbours: 17 places smaller than Franklin sit within 50 miles.
Larger places within 100 miles: 223.

Franklin in state context

Franklin is the 372nd-largest of 500 Census places in Arkansas and contains about 0.0% of the state's people. On the 2020-to-2023 trend, Franklin stands 60th among Arkansas's 500 places — roughly the 88th percentile. By density, at about 93 people per square mile, it ranks 458th in Arkansas. In land area, Franklin ranks 243rd among Arkansas's 500 places.

Before you apply in Franklin

These steps shape the offer you get in Franklin, a place of about 198 people:

Check all three credit reports for mistakes, because an error you fix now is a lower rate later.
Use the loan calculator to test the payment on your intended amount and term.
Gather at least three pre-qualified offers and line up the APR, not the headline rate.
Confirm the Arkansas licence with the regulator named above before committing.
Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing.
Make sure the new payment leaves room in a budget you already keep.
Weigh a shorter term's higher payment against the interest it saves.

What differs between Franklin and the rest of Arkansas is not the process but the borrower's own file, among the 198 people here.

The Arkansas lending rules that reach Franklin

These are Arkansas's sourced lending facts as they reach Franklin's 198 residents; the state has no city-level rate rule.

Rule	Detail	Source
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
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
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

Getting a loan in Franklin

Franklin is a sparsely settled community of about 198 people, with 55 larger places inside a 50-mile radius. What is available to Franklin's 198 borrowers is set by Arkansas licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. The nearest bigger place is Horseshoe Bend, AR about 4 miles away.

The anatomy of a Franklin personal loan

Franklin is a small community of about 198 people, and the personal loans written here are mostly unsecured — no collateral, so the lender leans on your credit file. The APR tracks your credit score rather than Franklin's rank of 372nd in Arkansas: a strong file may earn a single-digit rate, while damaged credit can push the rate far higher. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Franklin loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.

Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

Common questions

What are my options in Franklin if my credit is poor?

Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Franklin is the same as anywhere in Arkansas.

What loan size can I expect in Franklin?

Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.

Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Franklin?

For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.

Does comparing loans in Franklin cost me credit score points?

Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

Horseshoe Bend, AR — population 2,543
Oxford, AR — population 601
Melbourne, AR — population 1,883
Ash Flat, AR — population 1,175
Evening Shade, AR — population 430
Mount Pleasant, AR — population 368
Sidney, AR — population 197
Salem, AR — population 1,609