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Personal loans in Des Moines, IA

The roughly 210,381 people who live in Des Moines borrow under Iowa rules; city hall sets no personal-loan rate. For a community of about 210,381, the practical step is to compare APR across at least three lenders before committing. Roughly 210,381 residents live in Des Moines, the 1st-largest community in Iowa. Every figure below is Iowa's own, applied to Des Moines's 210,381 residents, with the publisher and retrieval date attached. The 2020 count to the 2023 estimate shows about 1.7% decline in Des Moines. No larger city sits in Iowa than Des Moines.

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

Compare loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Des Moines: the sourced local profile

Read the local figures below as context; read the sourced Iowa table as the rulebook a lender here must follow.

Des Moines's place among Iowa's 940 places

Against Iowa's other places, Des Moines accounts for about 8.1% of the state's population and ranks 1st of 940 by size. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Des Moines ranks 587th of 940 in Iowa (about the 38th percentile). Its roughly 2,386 residents per square mile place it 8th among Iowa's places. The population moved by about 3,743 people between 2020 and 2023, a 1.7% shift.

Borrowing reach in Des Moines

With about 2,386 residents per square mile, Des Moines is fairly dense, and 0 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. What is available to Des Moines's 210,381 borrowers is set by Iowa licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby.

Des Moines on the map

The Census Gazetteer records 88.2 square miles of land and 2.55 square miles of water within Des Moines. The resulting density is about 2,386 people per square mile. Des Moines has 0 larger places within a 50-mile radius. By land area it ranks 1st of 940 Iowa places.

What shapes a Des Moines personal loan

Most loans made to Des Moines's 210,381 residents are unsecured, so nothing is pledged and the lender relies on your credit history. Federal Truth in Lending rules require a Des Moines lender to disclose the APR and finance charge before you sign. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Des Moines loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.

What Iowa law requires in Des Moines

This table holds the Iowa rate and licensing rules for consumer loans made to Des Moines's 210,381 residents.

RuleDetailSource
State lending regulatorIowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services
Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services".		Iowa Division of Banking
as of 2026-09-16
Delayed deposit fee capFee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments
Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments".		Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code)
as of 2026-09-16
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap)2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements)
Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate".		Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code)
as of 2026-09-16
Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Common questions

What are my options in Des Moines 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 Des Moines is the same as anywhere in Iowa.
What loan size can I expect in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines?
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 Des Moines 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.

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