Harlan at a glance
- Population: about 4,891 residents, ranking 88th of 940 Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 4,896 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 88th out of 940 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 91% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.6495 latitude, -95.3268 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Atlantic, IA (24 mi); Denison, IA (25 mi); Carroll, IA (38 mi); Council Bluffs, IA (39 mi); Blair, NE (42 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Westphalia, IA (6 mi); Kirkman, IA (6 mi); Tennant, IA (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Harlan
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Harlan
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Harlan
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Harlan:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.