Mahaska at a glance
- Population: 43 people, the 588th-largest place among Kansas's 625 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 43 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: held steady across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 588th largest of 625 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 6% of the Census places in Kansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 39.9873, -97.3536 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Narka, KS (4 mi); Reynolds, NE (5 mi); Hubbell, NE (8 mi); Haddam, KS (9 mi); Munden, KS (11 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Gilead, NE (11 mi); Hollenberg, KS (19 mi); Vining, KS (29 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Mahaska
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Mahaska
The Kansas rate caps and licensing rules that reach Mahaska are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Mahaska
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Mahaska:
- 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.