Ethel at a glance
- Population: about 48, 883rd by size in Missouri of 937 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 48 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about the same as at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 883rd out of 937 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 6% of Missouri's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 39.8938, -92.7407 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Elmer, MO (7 mi); New Cambria, MO (8 mi); Bucklin, MO (11 mi); Callao, MO (11 mi); Bevier, MO (14 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: South Gifford, MO (10 mi); Triplett, MO (36 mi); Dalton, MO (37 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ethel
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Ethel
The Missouri rate caps and licensing rules that reach Ethel are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Ethel
Before you commit to a personal loan in Ethel, work through these steps:
- 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.