Lake Andes at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 685, placing it 90th among South Dakota's 309 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 714 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 4.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among South Dakota places: 90th of the state's 309 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 71% of South Dakota places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 43.1560, -98.5373 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Wagner, SD (14 mi); Armour, SD (15 mi); Platte, SD (22 mi); Parkston, SD (32 mi); Tyndall, SD (36 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Ravinia, SD (6 mi); Pickstown, SD (6 mi); Geddes, SD (11 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Lake Andes
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
South Dakota lending rules that apply in Lake Andes
The table carries the South Dakota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Lake Andes.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed money lenders (including payday and title lenders) but capped at 36% APR including all fees and charges; violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor and loans are void. Source says: "no licensee may contract for or receive finance charges pursuant to a loan in excess of an annual rate of thirty-six percent" (SDCL 54-4-44); "A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any loan made in violation of this section is void and uncollectible" (54-4-44). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money Lender license (SDCL ch. 54-4) required for anyone lending money or creating/holding/purchasing retail installment contracts; payday and title lenders are licensed as money lenders. Source says: "to be a Money Lender and subject to the licensing requirements of South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 54-4"; "Payday and title lenders are also licensed as Money Lenders under SDCL Chapter 54-4." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) Source says: "The Division of Banking is charged with the regulation and supervision of state chartered and licensed financial institutions." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Initiated Measure 21 anti-evasion rule (state-specific rule) | Initiated Measure 21 (2016) also bars evasion by indirect means; applies to loans originated, refinanced, rolled over, renewed or flipped after November 15, 2016. Source says: "prohibits these money lenders from evading this rate limitation by indirect means... a loan made in violation of this measure is void" (Division of Banking guidance on Initiated Measure 21). | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | No general maximum/usury restriction when the rate is set by written agreement; specific caps elsewhere in the code apply (e.g., 36% for licensed money lenders). Source says: "no maximum interest rate or charge, or usury rate restriction... if they establish the interest rate or charge by written agreement" (SDCL 54-3-1.1). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lake Andes
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Lake Andes:
- 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 South Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.