Lester Prairie at a glance
- Population: 1,901 people, the 272nd-largest place among Minnesota's 853 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,898 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.2% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 272nd of 853 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 68% of Minnesota's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 44.8833, -94.0370.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Winsted, MN (5 mi); Mayer, MN (7 mi); Glencoe, MN (10 mi); Norwood Young America, MN (10 mi); Watertown, MN (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: New Germany, MN (3 mi); Plato, MN (8 mi); Silver Lake, MN (8 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Lester Prairie
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Lester Prairie
The table lists the Minnesota rules that apply to a loan made in Lester Prairie, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lester Prairie
Run through this list before signing anything in Lester Prairie:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.