Alpha at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 124 residents, ranking 529th of 533 places in Michigan (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 123 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 0.8% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Michigan places: 529th of 533 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 1% of the places in Michigan (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.0440 / -88.3784, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Crystal Falls, MI (4 mi); Gaastra, MI (11 mi); Caspian, MI (12 mi); Iron River, MI (13 mi); Kingsford, MI (21 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Ahmeek, MI (87 mi); Big Falls, WI (104 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Alpha
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Michigan lending rules that apply in Alpha
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Michigan, and therefore in Alpha.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum maximum by written agreement; 5% legal rate (MCL 438.31) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate in writing for the payment of any rate of interest, not exceeding 7% per annum" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment service transactions (2005 PA 244; MCL 487.2121 et seq.), licensed and regulated by DIFS Source says: "AN ACT to regulate the business of providing deferred presentment service transactions; to require the licensing of providers of deferred presentment service transactions" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required from the commissioner to make regulated loans (Regulatory Loan Act, MCL 493.1 et seq.) Source says: "a person shall not engage in the business of making loans of money ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Source says: ""Department" means the department of insurance and financial services" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Regulated lender interest/finance charge cap | 25% per annum (Credit Reform Act, MCL 445.1854(1)) Source says: "may charge, collect, and receive any rate of interest or finance charge for an extension of credit not to exceed 25% per annum" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Alpha
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Alpha:
- 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 Michigan using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.