Council at a glance
- Population: about 957, 88th by size in Idaho of 197 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 870 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 10.0% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Idaho places: 88th out of 197 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 55% of Idaho's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.7332 latitude, -116.4368 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): McCall, ID (20 mi); Cascade, ID (25 mi); Weiser, ID (42 mi); Payette, ID (51 mi); Fruitland, ID (55 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Cambridge, ID (16 mi); Donnelly, ID (17 mi); New Meadows, ID (18 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Council
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Council
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Council: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Council
Before you share your details with a lender in Council:
- 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.