Leon at a glance
- Population: 1,817 residents, the 178th-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,819 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.1% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 178th of the state's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 81% of the Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.7413 latitude, -93.7556 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Lamoni, IA (12 mi); Osceola, IA (20 mi); Chariton, IA (30 mi); Bethany, MO (36 mi); Creston, IA (39 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller places: Decatur, IA (4 mi); Davis City, IA (8 mi); Van Wert, IA (9 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Leon
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.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Leon
The table carries the Iowa rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Leon.
| 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 Leon
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Leon:
- 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.