Bertha at a glance
- Population: about 551 residents, ranking 469th of 853 Census places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 561 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.8% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 469th largest of 853 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 45% of the places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.2671 latitude, -95.0618 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Clarissa, MN (11 mi); Wadena, MN (13 mi); Staples, MN (14 mi); Parkers Prairie, MN (15 mi); Browerville, MN (16 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller places: Hewitt, MN (4 mi); Eagle Bend, MN (7 mi); Verndale, MN (9 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Bertha
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Bertha
The Minnesota rate caps and licensing rules that reach Bertha are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Minnesota 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 requirement | Required 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 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bertha
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Bertha:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.