Cascade at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 587, placing it 76th among Montana's 127 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 596 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.5% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Montana places: 76th of the state's 127 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 40% of places in Montana rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.2771, -111.7030 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Great Falls, MT (24 mi); Fairfield, MT (27 mi); Choteau, MT (43 mi); East Helena, MT (49 mi); Helena, MT (49 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Belt, MT (37 mi); Dutton, MT (39 mi); Neihart, MT (51 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Cascade
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
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.
Montana lending rules that apply in Cascade
The table carries the Montana rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Cascade.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (BFID), Department of Administration Source says: "The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (Division) does all of its licensing through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)." | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred deposit loan license requirement (MCA 31-1-705) | A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department Source says: "A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department." | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Greater of 15% or prime rate + 6 percentage points per year (written agreement); regulated lenders exempt Source says: "Parties may agree in writing to the payment of any rate of interest that does not exceed the greater of 15%" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; deferred deposit lenders must be licensed; fee capped at 36% per annum Source says: "A licensee may not charge a fee for making or carrying each deferred deposit loan authorized by this part that exceeds 36% per annum" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required under the Montana Consumer Loan Act (32-5-101); licensing through NMLS Source says: "A consumer loan license is needed to engage in business as defined in the Montana Consumer Loan Act" | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cascade
A few practical steps will make the process in Cascade less costly:
- 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 Montana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.