Colby at a glance
- Population: 1,926 — 264th in Wisconsin, which has 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,951 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 1.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 264th out of 605 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 56% of places in Wisconsin rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.9113, -90.3157 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Abbotsford, WI (2 mi); Medford, WI (16 mi); Marshfield, WI (19 mi); Neillsville, WI (28 mi); Stanley, WI (31 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Unity, WI (4 mi); Dorchester, WI (6 mi); Curtiss, WI (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Colby
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Colby
Each row below is a Wisconsin rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Colby
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Colby:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.