Fortescue at a glance
- Population: 20 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 922nd-largest of 937 places in Missouri.
- 2020 Census base: 20 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: no meaningful change since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: the 922nd-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 2% of the Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.0519, longitude -95.3176 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Big Lake, MO (2 mi); White Cloud, KS (5 mi); Rulo, NE (6 mi); Mound City, MO (7 mi); Forest City, MO (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Bigelow, MO (4 mi); Irena, MO (59 mi); Conway, IA (61 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Fortescue
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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 Fortescue
The Missouri rate caps and licensing rules that reach Fortescue are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Fortescue
Before you share your details with a lender in Fortescue:
- 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.