Finley at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 391, placing it 103rd among North Dakota's 355 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 400 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.2% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 103rd of the state's 355 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 71% of places in North Dakota are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.5125 latitude, -97.8373 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Cooperstown, ND (14 mi); Hatton, ND (20 mi); Northwood, ND (20 mi); Portland, ND (22 mi); Mayville, ND (24 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Sharon, ND (7 mi); Aneta, ND (14 mi); Hope, ND (14 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Finley
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
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 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.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in Finley
Each row below is a North Dakota rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Finley
A few practical steps will make the process in Finley 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 North Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.