Personal loans in Ellston, IA
Two households in Ellston, Iowa with comparable incomes can still be offered different rates, because each lender weighs a credit file its own way. The Census estimates 21 people in Ellston, larger than about 0% of the communities in Iowa. Between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate, the population barely changed. State law, rather than federal rules alone, supplies Iowa's rate caps and licensing requirements. Judge offers on total cost, not on how quickly the money arrives. The nearest larger metro is Tingley, IA about 5 miles away.
Borrowing in Ellston: the local picture
Here is the sourced Census picture for Ellston, plus the Iowa lending rules that apply to a loan taken out here.
- Population: about 21 people live here, which puts Ellston 936th of 940 Census places in Iowa (Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: Steady across the 2020-to-2023 comparison.
- Size percentile: bigger than about 0% of the places in Iowa.
- Location: latitude 40.8401, longitude -94.1084 (Census Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Tingley (5 mi); Grand River (8 mi); Shannon City (9 mi); Kellerton (9 mi); Arispe (9 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Ellston whether or not they keep a local branch.
- Nearest smaller towns: Beaconsfield (4 mi); Irena (25 mi); Le Roy (27 mi) — useful context for the surrounding area.
What Iowa law requires in Ellston
Below are the Iowa rules that reach a loan made in Ellston, each with the regulator that issued it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee 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 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa 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 |
What a Ellston personal loan looks like
Two numbers drive a Ellston personal loan: the APR, which includes fees, and the term, which decides how long you keep paying. 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. Deal only with a lender licensed in Iowa, which you can check with the regulator named below.
A pre-application checklist for Ellston
Before you sign anything in Ellston, 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 Iowa licence by checking the regulator named above.
- Check that the monthly payment fits your budget next to your existing obligations.
Common questions
What are my options in Ellston if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Ellston?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Ellston?
Does comparing loans in Ellston cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Beaconsfield, IA — population 15
- Tingley, IA — population 135
- Kellerton, IA — population 239
- Grand River, IA — population 197
- Arispe, IA — population 94
- Shannon City, IA — population 72
- Mount Ayr, IA — population 1,626
- Thayer, IA — population 48