Personal loans in Empire, CO
Empire is a small community in Colorado, home to roughly 327 people and larger than about 21% of the places in the state. Its population fell about 4.1% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate. Personal loans taken out in Empire are governed by Colorado's lending law rather than by any local ordinance, which is why two neighbors with different credit histories can be quoted very different rates.
What is specific to borrowing in Empire
- Population: 327 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate) — the 214th-largest place of 270 in Colorado.
- Population trend: Its population fell about 4.1% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate.
- Size percentile: larger than about 21% of the Census places in Colorado.
- Location: 39.7594, -105.6817 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Georgetown (3 mi); Idaho Springs (9 mi); Central (10 mi); Winter Park (10 mi); Fraser (13 mi). Larger metros often have more walk-in branches, but online lenders serve Empire on the same terms.
- Nearest smaller towns: Silver Plume (5 mi); Black Hawk (10 mi); Montezuma (16 mi).
Colorado lending rules that apply in Empire
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | UCCC finance-charge ceilings: 12% per year on non-supervised consumer loans; supervised loans 36% on the first $1,000, 21% on $1,000–$3,000, 15% above $3,000 (or 21% flat); 21% on revolving accounts Source says: "not exceeding twelve percent per year on the unpaid balance of the amount financed"; "Thirty-six percent per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is one thousand dollars or less"; "Twenty-one percent per year on the unpaid balances of the amount financed". | Colorado General Assembly — C.R.S. § 5-2-201 (Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 5) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted but capped at 36% APR (Proposition 111, effective February 1, 2019) Source says: "a finance charge for each deferred deposit loan or payday loan that must not exceed an annual percentage rate of thirty-six percent". | Colorado General Assembly — C.R.S. § 5-3.1-105 (Deferred Deposit Loan Act) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required from the UCCC Administrator (master license required for more than one place of business); deferred deposit lenders must hold a supervised lender's license Source says: "if a supervised lender has more than one place of business, they must obtain a master license"; "no person shall engage in the business of deferred deposit loans without having first obtained a supervised lender's license" (C.R.S. § 5-3.1-116). | Colorado Attorney General — Uniform Consumer Credit Code licensing as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Colorado Attorney General's Office — Consumer Credit Unit (Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code) Source says: "The Consumer Credit Unit regulates (through licensure/registration programs) companies and individuals involved in consumer lending"; it "licenses non-bank lenders such as finance companies and payday lenders". | Colorado Attorney General — Consumer Protection Section as of 2026-09-16 |
How a personal loan works in Empire
When you apply for a personal loan in Empire, most lenders start with pre-qualification, which uses a soft credit pull and does not affect your score. That lets you see estimated rates from several lenders before committing. Only when you accept an offer and complete a full application does the lender run a hard inquiry, which may ding your score by a few points for a short period. Rate-shopping within a focused window is treated as a single inquiry by most scoring models.
Before you apply in Empire
- 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 Colorado using the regulator listed above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.
Advertising disclosure: Loansloth may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. Read the full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a personal loan with bad credit in Empire?
Yes, but expect a higher APR and possibly a smaller amount. Lenders that serve borrowers with lower scores are licensed statewide, so your options in Empire are the same as elsewhere in Colorado.
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Empire?
Most personal loans range from about $1,000 to $50,000, but the amount you are approved for depends on the lender and your income and credit. Use our personal loan calculator to model the payment before you apply.
Does a personal loan in Empire require collateral?
Unsecured personal loans do not require collateral. A secured loan, such as a home-equity or auto-secured loan, does — and it puts the pledged asset at risk if you default.
Will shopping for a loan in Empire hurt my credit?
Pre-qualification usually uses a soft credit pull that does not affect your score. A full application triggers a hard inquiry, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily.
Nearby places
- Georgetown, CO — population 1,257
- Silver Plume, CO — population 194
- Winter Park, CO — population 1,149
- Central, CO — population 778
- Idaho Springs, CO — population 1,708
- Black Hawk, CO — population 128
- Fraser, CO — population 1,456
- Montezuma, CO — population 72