Branson West at a glance
- Population: 497, the 473rd-largest community in Missouri out of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 484 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.7% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 473rd-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 50% of Missouri's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.6886 / -93.3931, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Kimberling City, MO (3 mi); Reeds Spring, MO (4 mi); Indian Point, MO (4 mi); Branson, MO (8 mi); Hollister, MO (11 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Coney Island, MO (7 mi); Galena, MO (9 mi); McCord Bend, MO (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Branson West
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Branson West
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Branson West: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Branson West
Run through this list before signing anything in Branson West:
- 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.