Cooter at a glance
- Population: 322 — 554th in Missouri, which has 937 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 347 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 7.2% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 554th of the state's 937 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 41% of places in Missouri rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 36.0467, -89.8092 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Steele, MO (4 mi); Blytheville, AR (9 mi); Gosnell, AR (11 mi); Caruthersville, MO (12 mi); Hayti Heights, MO (13 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Holland, MO (4 mi); Rives, MO (12 mi); Pascola, MO (15 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Cooter
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Cooter
The table lists the Missouri rules that apply to a loan made in Cooter, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cooter
Before you share your details with a lender in Cooter:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.