Bridgewater at a glance
- Population: 145 people, the 738th-largest place among Iowa's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 148 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 738th largest of 940 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 21% of Iowa's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 41.2471, -94.6689.
- Nearest larger cities: Massena, IA (5 mi); Fontanelle, IA (6 mi); Cumberland, IA (11 mi); Greenfield, IA (12 mi); Orient, IA (13 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Wiota, IA (16 mi); Carbon, IA (16 mi); Cromwell, IA (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bridgewater
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Bridgewater
The Iowa rate caps and licensing rules that reach Bridgewater are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bridgewater
Run through this list before signing anything in Bridgewater:
- 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.