Personal loans in Merced, CA

If you are weighing a personal loan in Merced, start from the payment you can carry; its 93,692 residents face the same statewide rules. Merced ranks 80th of 482 places in California, with a population near 93,692.

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

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.

Merced gained roughly 8.5% in population across the 2020-to-2023 comparison. To lend to Merced's 93,692 residents, a company must hold a California licence, and each sourced row below names the regulator behind it. Verify the lender's California licence against the regulator named below before borrowing in Merced. For a bigger market, look to Modesto, CA about 37 miles away.

Merced: the sourced local profile

Merced is a mid-sized city; the notes below cover its population profile and the statewide rules that apply.

Merced in state context

Set beside California's 482 places, Merced ranks 80th by population and holds about 0.3% of the state total. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Merced ranks 10th of 482 in California (about the 98th percentile). By density, at about 4,030 people per square mile, it ranks 189th in California. Within 50 miles sit 21 smaller Census places, alongside the 1 that are larger.

What California law requires in Merced

When California does not publish a figure, the row links to the source instead of inventing a number; Merced is bound by the same rules.

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
36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539)Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate
Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate".
California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5
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

What a Merced borrower is actually offered

In Merced, a mid-sized city of about 93,692, the amount is advanced up front and repaid in fixed installments; the city's size does not change the pricing. The rate you see advertised is a range, not a promise, until a lender reviews your file in Merced. Shortening the term on a Merced loan raises the monthly payment but cuts the interest; lengthening it does the reverse.

Merced: area, density and distance

Merced covers about 23.2 square miles of land (Census Gazetteer); no significant water area is recorded inside its boundaries. With 93,692 residents, the land area yields roughly 4,030 people per square mile. The largest place in California, Los Angeles, lies about 255 miles away. A 50-mile radius around Merced takes in 1 places that are larger. Within the same 50 miles lie 21 smaller Census places.

How lenders reach Merced

With about 4,030 residents per square mile, Merced is fairly dense, and 1 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. Whether Merced has a local branch or not, a California-licensed lender can serve its 93,692 people online on the same terms. For a larger market, the closest option is Modesto, CA about 37 miles away.

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 Merced 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 Merced is the same as anywhere in California.
What loan size can I expect in Merced?
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 Merced?
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 Merced 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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