Carter Lake at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 3,759 residents, ranking 106th of 940 places in Iowa (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,792 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.9% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 106th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 89% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.2885, -95.9169 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Council Bluffs, IA (5 mi); Omaha, NE (7 mi); Ralston, NE (9 mi); Bellevue, NE (10 mi); La Vista, NE (11 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Crescent, IA (6 mi); Boys Town, NE (11 mi); McClelland, IA (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Carter Lake
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Carter Lake
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Carter Lake
Before you commit to a personal loan in Carter Lake, work through these steps:
- 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.