Personal loans in Dawson, ND
Dawson sits inside North Dakota, where a single set of consumer-lending rules governs every lender that operates. Dawson is home to roughly 73 people and stands 247th by size out of 355 Census places in North Dakota. From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population declined by about 2.7%. Which products a lender may offer locally in North Dakota follows from the state's consumer-lending framework. Price two or three terms so you can see which payment is truly affordable. The nearest larger metro is Tappen, ND about 6 miles away.
Borrowing in Dawson: the local picture
Two layers matter for a Dawson borrower: the local population picture and North Dakota's consumer-lending statutes.
- Population: about 73 people live here, which puts Dawson 247th of 355 Census places in North Dakota (Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: Roughly 2.7% fewer residents than the 2020 Census counted.
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 30% of North Dakota's Census places.
- Location: the Census Gazetteer records it at 46.8679, -99.7536.
- Nearest larger cities: Tappen (6 mi); Steele (8 mi); Medina (22 mi); Streeter (24 mi); Napoleon (25 mi). A bigger neighbour may offer more branches; the rate you see still follows your credit, not your address.
- Smaller places nearby: Robinson (19 mi); Pettibone (20 mi); Tuttle (22 mi).
What North Dakota law requires in Dawson
Every row below records a North Dakota rule, its publisher and its retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
What a Dawson personal loan looks like
Because a personal loan payment is fixed, the total cost is knowable in advance — the main difference from a credit card, where the balance revolves. A lender who will not put the terms in writing is a reason to walk away. Borrowing is a decision to make calmly, not one to rush.
A pre-application checklist for Dawson
Before you sign anything in Dawson, run through this list:
- 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 Dawson if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Dawson?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Dawson?
Does comparing loans in Dawson cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Tappen, ND — population 211
- Steele, ND — population 652
- Robinson, ND — population 35
- Pettibone, ND — population 58
- Napoleon, ND — population 745
- Tuttle, ND — population 58
- Streeter, ND — population 148
- Braddock, ND — population 17