Personal loans in Berlin, ND
Berlin, North Dakota is a small community, and the lending rules its residents live under are written at the state level, not by the city. At about 30 residents, Berlin is bigger than roughly 14% of the places in North Dakota. The city's population held flat through the 2020-to-2023 comparison. Which products a lender may offer locally in North Dakota follows from the state's consumer-lending framework. Begin with the payment, then weigh APR and total interest across lenders. The closest larger city is LaMoure, ND about 9 miles away.
Borrowing in Berlin: the local picture
Only a few things actually differ by place — population, location, and the North Dakota rules a lender must follow — and they are below.
- Population: 30 residents; Berlin is the 307th-largest of 355 places in North Dakota (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: About level with the 2020 Census.
- Size percentile: it sits ahead of around 14% of North Dakota places.
- Location: mapped by the US Census Bureau at 46.3784, -98.4884.
- Nearest larger cities: LaMoure (9 mi); Edgeley (11 mi); Dickey (11 mi); Fullerton (15 mi); Marion (18 mi). Online lenders reach Berlin no matter how far the nearest branch is.
- Nearest smaller towns: Monango (15 mi); Ludden (31 mi); Elliott (32 mi) — useful context for the surrounding area.
What North Dakota law requires in Berlin
Below are the North Dakota rules that reach a loan made in Berlin, each with the regulator that issued it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
What a Berlin personal loan looks like
A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Berlin loan but raises the total interest, so the smallest payment is not always the cheapest loan. The quoted APR tracks your credit score: an excellent file may earn a single-digit rate, while damaged credit can push the rate into the high twenties or thirties. If the payment would strain your budget, a smaller loan or a longer saving period is the safer route.
A pre-application checklist for Berlin
Before you hand your details to a lender in Berlin:
- Order your free credit reports and dispute anything inaccurate — it is the cheapest way to move the rate you are offered.
- Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
- Pre-qualify with three or more lenders, then compare the APR rather than the interest rate.
- Confirm the lender holds a North Dakota licence by checking the regulator named above.
- Choose a term you can live with; stretching it lowers the payment but raises total interest.
Common questions
What are my options in Berlin if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Berlin?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Berlin?
Does comparing loans in Berlin cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Dickey, ND — population 50
- LaMoure, ND — population 760
- Fullerton, ND — population 57
- Edgeley, ND — population 576
- Monango, ND — population 29
- Marion, ND — population 124
- Montpelier, ND — population 86
- Ellendale, ND — population 1,093