Personal loans in Bowbells, ND

A lender serving Bowbells holds a North Dakota licence and answers to a North Dakota regulator; no city office is involved for its 285 residents. Census figures put the 2020-to-2023 decrease in Bowbells at about 3.1%.

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

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The Census counts 285 people in Bowbells, the 124th-largest figure among North Dakota's 355 places. If debt is already a strain, a nonprofit credit counsellor can help Bowbells residents before they take on more. Which products a lender may offer to Bowbells's 285 residents follows from the North Dakota consumer-lending framework. For a bigger market, look to Kenmare, ND about 12 miles away.

What the Census records for Bowbells

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

Population: the Census counts 285 residents in Bowbells (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 124th-largest figure among North Dakota's 355 places.
Population trend: A drop of about 3.1% from 2020 to 2023.
Absolute change: 9 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
Size percentile: about 65% of North Dakota communities are smaller than Bowbells (285 residents).
Land and density: 1.0 square miles of land carry roughly 300 residents per square mile.
Land area rank: Bowbells's 1.0 square miles rank 123rd of 355 places in North Dakota.
Water area: Bowbells has 0.02 square miles of water, ranking 42nd of 355 places in North Dakota.
State population share: Bowbells accounts for about 0.0% of everyone in North Dakota.
National standing: Bowbells ranks 15,284th of 19,457 US places.
Growth rank: Bowbells's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 257th of 355 places in North Dakota.
Against the state trend: Bowbells's 3.1% change compares with a North Dakota average of -1.2% across its 355 places.
Density rank: Bowbells is the 195th most densely settled place in North Dakota.
Against the state median: Bowbells runs about 300 residents per square mile, where the North Dakota median is 352.
Location: it lies at 48.8022, -102.2458 in the Census Gazetteer.
Nearest larger cities: Kenmare (12 mi); Powers Lake (25 mi); Mohall (33 mi); Stanley (34 mi); Berthold (40 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Bowbells whether or not they keep a local branch.
Smaller communities close by: Flaxton (9 mi); Lignite (15 mi); Portal (19 mi), each with its own Census population profile.
Within a 50-mile radius: 18 smaller Census places.
Within 100 miles: 25 places are larger than Bowbells.

Getting a loan in Bowbells

Bowbells is a lightly settled community of about 285 people, with 7 larger places inside a 50-mile radius. Lenders licensed in North Dakota reach Bowbells's 285 residents online, so the nearest branch is not what sets your APR. For a larger market, the closest option is Kenmare, ND about 12 miles away.

North Dakota consumer-lending rules applied in Bowbells

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

Rule	Detail	Source
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
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

Bowbells on the map

Bowbells's land area is about 1.0 square miles; a further 0.02 square miles is water. The resulting density is about 300 people per square mile. Fargo, the largest place in North Dakota, is about 285 miles from Bowbells. Within 50 miles of Bowbells there are 7 larger Census places. The 100-mile radius contains 25 larger places.

Bowbells against the rest of North Dakota

Set beside North Dakota's 355 places, Bowbells ranks 124th by population and holds about 0.0% of the state total. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Bowbells ranks 257th of 355 in North Dakota (about the 28th percentile). Its roughly 300 residents per square mile place it 195th among North Dakota's places. In land area, Bowbells ranks 123rd among North Dakota's 355 places.

Steps to take before a Bowbells loan

Before you apply in Bowbells, a community of about 285, work through these steps:

Order your free credit reports and dispute anything inaccurate — it is the cheapest way to move the rate you are offered.
Model the payment on the calculator before a lender models it for you.
Get several pre-qualifications and compare APR side by side before choosing.
Verify the lender's North Dakota licence with the regulator listed on this page.
Do not borrow more than the expense calls for, even if a lender approves a larger amount.
Be clear on what the loan is for and how it gets repaid.
When debt already feels heavy, a nonprofit credit counsellor is worth a call first.

The process is identical across North Dakota; what changes is your credit file, not the fact that Bowbells holds 285 people.

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Common questions

What are my options in Bowbells 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 Bowbells is the same as anywhere in North Dakota.

What loan size can I expect in Bowbells?

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 Bowbells?

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 Bowbells 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.

Nearby places

Flaxton, ND — population 61
Kenmare, ND — population 914
Lignite, ND — population 136
Portal, ND — population 119
Tolley, ND — population 42
Palermo, ND — population 122
Donnybrook, ND — population 73
Powers Lake, ND — population 375