Elgin at a glance
- Population: about 519, 90th by size in North Dakota of 355 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 543 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 4.4% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 90th of 355 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 75% of North Dakota's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.4015, -101.8474 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Mott, ND (23 mi); Glen Ullin, ND (28 mi); Lemmon, SD (35 mi); Hebron, ND (36 mi); New Salem, ND (37 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: New Leipzig, ND (5 mi); Leith, ND (10 mi); Carson, ND (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Elgin
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in Elgin
The table carries the North Dakota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Elgin.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Elgin
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Elgin:
- 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 North Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.