Benton City at a glance
- Population: 105 residents, the 785th-largest of 937 places in Missouri (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 103 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.9% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 785th of 937 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 16% of the places in Missouri (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.1345, -91.7649 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Mexico, MO (6 mi); Martinsburg, MO (7 mi); Laddonia, MO (10 mi); Auxvasse, MO (11 mi); Wellsville, MO (11 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller places: Vandiver, MO (5 mi); Rush Hill, MO (6 mi); Stoutsville, MO (29 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Benton City
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Benton City
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Benton City
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Benton City:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.