Kelso at a glance
- Population: about 551, 448th by size in Missouri of 937 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 556 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.9% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 448th by size among 937 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 52% of places in Missouri are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.1922, -89.5504 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Scott City, MO (2 mi); Chaffee, MO (6 mi); Benton, MO (6 mi); Cape Girardeau, MO (8 mi); Oran, MO (9 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: Thebes, IL (6 mi); Commerce, MO (6 mi); East Cape Girardeau, IL (8 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Kelso
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Kelso
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 Kelso
A few practical steps will make the process in Kelso 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.