Birch Tree at a glance
- Population: 557, the 447th-largest community in Missouri out of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 543 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.6% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 447th of 937 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 52% of places in Missouri are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 36.9967, -91.4917.
- Nearest larger cities: Winona, MO (9 mi); Mountain View, MO (12 mi); Alton, MO (22 mi); Willow Springs, MO (26 mi); Van Buren, MO (27 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Eminence, MO (13 mi); Summersville, MO (16 mi); Brandsville, MO (26 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Birch Tree
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Birch Tree
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Missouri, and therefore in Birch Tree.
| 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 Birch Tree
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Birch Tree:
- 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.