Personal loans in Florence, SC
Florence, SC is a small city in South Carolina with a Census-estimated population of 40,609, making it the 11th-largest of 271 places in the state. Its population grew about 1.2% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate. Borrowers in Florence compare personal loans the same way borrowers do anywhere in South Carolina: the lender prices the loan from your credit history, income and debt load, not from your city.
What is specific to borrowing in Florence
- Population: 40,609 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate) — the 11th-largest place of 271 in South Carolina.
- Population trend: Its population grew about 1.2% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate.
- Size percentile: larger than about 96% of the Census places in South Carolina.
- Location: 34.1789, -79.7922 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Sumter (38 mi); Columbia (64 mi); Fayetteville (78 mi); Indian Trail (79 mi); Goose Creek (83 mi). Larger metros often have more walk-in branches, but online lenders serve Florence on the same terms.
- Nearest smaller towns: Quinby (5 mi); Timmonsville (9 mi); Darlington (9 mi).
South Carolina lending rules that apply in Florence
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8.75% per annum statutory legal rate where no rate is agreed (judgment rate: Wall Street Journal prime + 4 points). Source says: "the legal interest shall be at the rate of eight and three-fourths percent per annum" (S.C. Code 34-31-20(A)). | South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code of Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment providers; max $550 advanced at one time; fee limited to 15% of principal; term up to 31 days; 2025 repeal bill S.379 introduced but not enacted. Source says: "The total amount advanced by a licensee to any customer at one time for deferred presentment or deposit may not exceed five hundred fifty dollars" (34-39-180(B)); fees capped at "fifteen percent of the principal amount of the transaction" (34-39-180(E)). | South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code of Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Division licenses and regulates companies making consumer loans with APRs exceeding 12% (Title 37 Consumer Protection Code; Consumer Finance Act, Title 34, ch. 29). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Division (CFD) licenses and regulates the business activities of all companies... that make consumer loans which have annual percentage rates exceeding 12%." | South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division (Office of the Commissioner of Consumer Finance) Source says: "South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions Office of the Commissioner of Consumer Finance" (site heading). | South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Supervised loan threshold (state-specific rule) | Consumer loans with a finance charge above 12%/year are "supervised loans" requiring licensed supervised lenders; supervised lenders may charge up to 18% per year on unpaid balances. Source says: "Supervised loan means a consumer loan in which the rate of the loan finance charge exceeds twelve percent per year" (37-3-301); "eighteen percent per year on the unpaid balances of principal" (37-3-201(2)(c)). | South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code of Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
How a personal loan works in Florence
A personal loan in Florence 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. Because the payment is fixed, the total cost is predictable up front — which is the main advantage over a credit card, where the balance revolves and the payoff date is open-ended. The two numbers that matter are the APR (which includes fees, not just interest) and the term. A longer term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay.
Before you apply in Florence
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run the numbers with our personal loan calculator so you know the payment before a lender tells you.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check the lender is licensed in South Carolina using the regulator listed above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get a personal loan with bad credit in Florence?
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Florence?
Does a personal loan in Florence require collateral?
Will shopping for a loan in Florence hurt my credit?
Nearby places
- Quinby, SC — population 905
- Darlington, SC — population 6,057
- Timmonsville, SC — population 2,105
- Coward, SC — population 751
- Scranton, SC — population 655
- Lamar, SC — population 843
- Olanta, SC — population 542
- Pamplico, SC — population 1,054