Denison at a glance
- Population: 8,114 residents, the 49th-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 8,367 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 3.0% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 49th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 95% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 42.0159, longitude -95.3524 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Carroll, IA (25 mi); Storm Lake, IA (44 mi); Council Bluffs, IA (60 mi); South Sioux City, NE (62 mi); Sioux City, IA (63 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Deloit, IA (6 mi); Buck Grove, IA (7 mi); Arion, IA (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Denison
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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 Denison
The table carries the Iowa rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Denison.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Denison
A few practical steps will make the process in Denison less costly:
- 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.