Creston at a glance
- Population: roughly 7,392 people; 55th of 940 places in Iowa (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 7,542 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.0% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 55th in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 94% of the places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.0603 latitude, -94.3647 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Waukee, IA (44 mi); West Des Moines, IA (45 mi); Norwalk, IA (45 mi); Indianola, IA (47 mi); Clive, IA (48 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Cromwell, IA (5 mi); Afton, IA (9 mi); Orient, IA (10 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Creston
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Creston
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Iowa, and therefore in Creston.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Creston
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Creston:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.