Bismarck at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 1,240 residents, ranking 307th of 937 places in Missouri (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,239 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 0.1% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 307th of 937 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 67% of Missouri places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.7673 / -90.6225, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Park Hills, MO (8 mi); Desloge, MO (9 mi); Farmington, MO (11 mi); Bonne Terre, MO (11 mi); Ironton, MO (12 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Iron Mountain Lake, MO (5 mi); Irondale, MO (5 mi); Leadwood, MO (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Bismarck
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
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.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Bismarck
The table carries the Missouri rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bismarck.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bismarck
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Bismarck:
- 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.