Bertram at a glance
- Population: 267 — 586th in Iowa, which has 940 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 270 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 1.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 586th by size among 940 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 38% of the places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.9517, -91.5378 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Ely, IA (6 mi); Mount Vernon, IA (6 mi); Marion, IA (7 mi); Cedar Rapids, IA (7 mi); Lisbon, IA (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Martelle, IA (10 mi); Morley, IA (15 mi); Prairieburg, IA (21 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Bertram
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Bertram
The Iowa rate caps and licensing rules that reach Bertram are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bertram
Run through this list before signing anything in Bertram:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.