Almena at a glance
- Population: 353, the 328th-largest community in Kansas out of 625 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 364 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Kansas places: 328th of the state's 625 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 48% of places in Kansas rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 39.8913, -99.7096.
- Nearest larger cities: Norton, KS (10 mi); Logan, KS (18 mi); Beaver City, NE (18 mi); Phillipsburg, KS (23 mi); Alma, NE (23 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Prairie View, KS (8 mi); Long Island, KS (10 mi); Stamford, NE (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Almena
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Almena
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Kansas, and therefore in Almena.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Almena
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Almena:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.