Malta at a glance
- Population: 176 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 175th-largest of 197 places in Idaho.
- 2020 Census base: 166 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 6.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Idaho places: 175th out of 197 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 11% of Idaho's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.3075, -113.3697 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Albion, ID (13 mi); Declo, ID (20 mi); Rupert, ID (27 mi); Heyburn, ID (27 mi); Oakley, ID (27 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Acequia, ID (27 mi); Minidoka, ID (31 mi); Snowville, UT (41 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Malta
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Malta
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Malta
A few practical steps will make the process in Malta 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.