Festus at a glance
- Population: about 13,443 residents, ranking 57th of 937 Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 12,699 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 5.9% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 57th-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 94% of places in Missouri rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 38.2194, -90.4097 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Arnold, MO (14 mi); Kirkwood, MO (25 mi); Webster Groves, MO (26 mi); Manchester, MO (26 mi); Ballwin, MO (27 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Crystal City, MO (2 mi); Herculaneum, MO (3 mi); Pevely, MO (5 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Festus
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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 Festus
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Festus
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Festus:
- 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.