Chancellor at a glance
- Population: about 316 residents, ranking 151st of 309 Census places in South Dakota (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 301 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 5.0% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among South Dakota places: 151st in population of 309 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 51% of South Dakota's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.3718 / -96.9873, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Lennox, SD (5 mi); Parker, SD (8 mi); Hurley, SD (8 mi); Tea, SD (10 mi); Worthing, SD (11 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller places: Davis, SD (8 mi); Monroe, SD (14 mi); Dolton, SD (22 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Chancellor
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
South Dakota lending rules that apply in Chancellor
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initiated Measure 21 anti-evasion rule (state-specific rule) | Initiated Measure 21 (2016) also bars evasion by indirect means; applies to loans originated, refinanced, rolled over, renewed or flipped after November 15, 2016. Source says: "prohibits these money lenders from evading this rate limitation by indirect means... a loan made in violation of this measure is void" (Division of Banking guidance on Initiated Measure 21). | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | No general maximum/usury restriction when the rate is set by written agreement; specific caps elsewhere in the code apply (e.g., 36% for licensed money lenders). Source says: "no maximum interest rate or charge, or usury rate restriction... if they establish the interest rate or charge by written agreement" (SDCL 54-3-1.1). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed money lenders (including payday and title lenders) but capped at 36% APR including all fees and charges; violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor and loans are void. Source says: "no licensee may contract for or receive finance charges pursuant to a loan in excess of an annual rate of thirty-six percent" (SDCL 54-4-44); "A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any loan made in violation of this section is void and uncollectible" (54-4-44). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money Lender license (SDCL ch. 54-4) required for anyone lending money or creating/holding/purchasing retail installment contracts; payday and title lenders are licensed as money lenders. Source says: "to be a Money Lender and subject to the licensing requirements of South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 54-4"; "Payday and title lenders are also licensed as Money Lenders under SDCL Chapter 54-4." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) Source says: "The Division of Banking is charged with the regulation and supervision of state chartered and licensed financial institutions." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Chancellor
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Chancellor:
- 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 South Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.