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Personal loans in St. James, MN

St. James, Minnesota — home to about 4,699 people — is a small community, so the terms you are offered follow Minnesota law rather than any local rule. Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing in St. James. About 4,699 people live in St. James, placing it 162nd of 853 Census places in Minnesota. Rate ceilings, licensing requirements and product limits for St. James are all set at the Minnesota level. From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population declined by about 2.0%. For a bigger market, look to New Ulm, MN about 24 miles away.

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.

St. James: population, trend and location

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

Where St. James sits in Minnesota

St. James is the 162nd-largest of 853 Census places in Minnesota and contains about 0.1% of the state's people. For population change between 2020 and 2023, St. James ranks 628th of 853 in Minnesota (about the 26th percentile). At about 1,922 people per square mile, St. James is the 81st most densely settled place in Minnesota. Within 50 miles sit 95 smaller Census places, alongside the 9 that are larger.

St. James on the map

Inside St. James's boundaries lie roughly 2.4 square miles of land and 0.02 square miles of water. Spread across it are roughly 1,922 residents per square mile. Minneapolis, the largest place in Minnesota, is about 95 miles from St. James. A 50-mile radius around St. James takes in 9 places that are larger. The 100-mile radius contains 89 larger places.

What Minnesota law requires in St. James

Below are the Minnesota rules that apply to a loan made in St. James, each with the regulator that issued it.

RuleDetailSource
State lending regulatorMinnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce)
Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce"		Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes
as of 2026-09-16
Payday ability-to-repay requirementRequired for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603)
Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent."		Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes
as of 2026-09-16
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap)6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01)
Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year"		Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes
as of 2026-09-16

How lenders reach St. James

St. James is moderately settled, with about 1,922 people per square mile and 9 larger places within 50 miles. What is available to St. James's 4,699 borrowers is set by Minnesota licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. The nearest larger city, New Ulm, MN about 24 miles away.

What to do before borrowing in St. James

Before you apply in St. James, a community of about 4,699, work through these steps:

  1. Get your credit reports, dispute what is wrong, and only then start shopping.
  2. Test your amount and term in the personal loan calculator first.
  3. Gather at least three pre-qualified offers and line up the APR, not the headline rate.
  4. Verify the lender's Minnesota licence with the regulator listed on this page.
  5. Make sure the new payment leaves room in a budget you already keep.
  6. Choose a term you can live with; stretching it lowers the payment but raises total interest.
  7. Borrow only what the purpose requires, not the maximum you are offered.

What differs between St. James and the rest of Minnesota is not the process but the borrower's own file, among the 4,699 people here.

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 St. James 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 St. James is the same as anywhere in Minnesota.
What loan size can I expect in St. James?
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 St. James?
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 St. James 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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