Personal loans in Malibu, CA

Malibu is a small town of about 10,277 residents, and a personal loan taken out here is governed by California statute.

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

Compare loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

State law, not city hall, decides what a lender may do to Malibu's roughly 10,277 residents, and a state regulator supervises it. By population, Malibu sits at 371st in California, with an estimated 10,277 residents. Pull your credit reports and line up at least three offers before you apply from Malibu. Population in Malibu dropped about 3.5% over the three years from 2020 to 2023. A larger market lies at Agoura Hills, CA about 9 miles away.

Malibu: population, trend and location

Set out below is Malibu's local context next to the state-level rules that reach every lender here.

The geography behind Malibu

Inside Malibu's boundaries lie roughly 19.8 square miles of land and 79.26 square miles of water. With 10,277 residents, the land area yields roughly 518 people per square mile. The largest place in California, Los Angeles, lies about 20 miles away. A 50-mile radius around Malibu takes in 88 places that are larger. By land area it ranks 115th of 482 California places.

Malibu against the rest of California

Set beside California's 482 places, Malibu ranks 371st by population and holds about 0.0% of the state total. Its 2020-to-2023 change ranks 342nd of 482 California places, putting it near the 29th percentile for growth. By density, at about 518 people per square mile, it ranks 464th in California. Between 2020 and 2023 the count changed by roughly 373 residents.

The state rulebook for Malibu

For the roughly 10,277 residents of Malibu, the rules below are California's own; each row carries its publisher and retrieval date.

RuleDetailSource
State lending regulatorCalifornia Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)
Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation".		California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001
as of 2026-09-16
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap)7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans
Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum".		California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1
as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending statusPermitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days
Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036).		California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036)
as of 2026-09-16

Borrowing reach in Malibu

Malibu is a moderately settled community of about 10,277 people, with 88 larger places inside a 50-mile radius. Lenders licensed in California reach Malibu's 10,277 residents online, so the nearest branch is not what sets your APR. The nearest larger city, Agoura Hills, CA about 9 miles away.

The Malibu borrowing checklist

For Malibu's roughly 10,277 residents, these are the steps that most influence the offer:

  1. Pull your credit reports first and correct any error before a lender sees the file.
  2. Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
  3. Collect three or more offers and compare them on APR, not on the advertised rate.
  4. Look the lender up in the California regulator's licence records before you sign.
  5. Write down the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before you apply.
  6. When debt already feels heavy, a nonprofit credit counsellor is worth a call first.
  7. Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing.

The process is identical across California; what changes is your credit file, not the fact that Malibu holds 10,277 people.

Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Common questions

What are my options in Malibu 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 Malibu is the same as anywhere in California.
What loan size can I expect in Malibu?
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 Malibu?
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 Malibu 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.

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