Personalloaner

Personal loans in Menlo, IA

A personal loan in Menlo is priced from your credit file and income, not from the fact that the city holds 343 people. Menlo is one of 940 Census places in Iowa; its 343 residents put it at 534th. The closest larger city is Stuart, IA about 5 miles away. From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population declined by about 0.3%. Consumer lending that reaches Menlo's 343 residents is governed by Iowa statute; no city ordinance changes it. Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing in Menlo.

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.

Menlo: population, trend and location

What follows is Menlo's place in the Census record, alongside the Iowa rules that govern a personal loan made here.

Getting a loan in Menlo

With about 692 residents per square mile, Menlo is moderately settled, and 74 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. Distance to a branch rarely matters for Menlo's 343 residents: the application is online and the price follows your credit file. For a larger market, the closest option is Stuart, IA about 5 miles away.

How Iowa law applies in Menlo

For the roughly 343 residents of Menlo, the rules below are Iowa's own; each row carries its publisher and retrieval date.

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
Small-loan / installment lender licensingRegulated 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
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

Menlo against the rest of Iowa

Against Iowa's other places, Menlo accounts for about 0.0% of the state's population and ranks 534th of 940 by size. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Menlo ranks 313th of 940 in Iowa (about the 67th percentile). Its roughly 692 residents per square mile place it 460th among Iowa's places. Between 2020 and 2023 the count changed by roughly 1 residents.

How a Menlo personal loan is priced

Most loans made to Menlo's 343 residents are unsecured, so nothing is pledged and the lender relies on your credit history. Federal Truth in Lending rules require a Menlo lender to disclose the APR and finance charge before you sign. Because the payment is fixed, the total cost of a Menlo loan is knowable in advance — unlike a revolving card balance.

What to do before borrowing in Menlo

Before you hand your details to a lender in Menlo, where the population is near 343:

  1. Pull your credit reports first and correct any error before a lender sees the file.
  2. Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
  3. Line up several pre-qualified offers and let the APR decide.
  4. Make sure the lender appears in the Iowa regulator's licence list.
  5. Check that the monthly payment fits your budget next to your existing obligations.
  6. Choose a term you can live with; stretching it lowers the payment but raises total interest.
  7. Do not borrow more than the expense calls for, even if a lender approves a larger amount.

The process is identical across Iowa; what changes is your credit file, not the fact that Menlo holds 343 people.

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 Menlo 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 Menlo is the same as anywhere in Iowa.
What loan size can I expect in Menlo?
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 Menlo?
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 Menlo 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

Related