Mason City at a glance
- Population: about 149, 369th by size in Nebraska of 527 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 148 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Nebraska places: the 369th-largest of 527 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 30% of places in Nebraska rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.2222, -99.2988 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Ansley, NE (6 mi); Litchfield, NE (9 mi); Arcadia, NE (17 mi); Loup City, NE (18 mi); Pleasanton, NE (21 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Berwyn, NE (14 mi); Hazard, NE (15 mi); Miller, NE (21 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Mason City
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Nebraska lending rules that apply in Mason City
Each row below is a Nebraska rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Capped at 36% APR (Initiative 428, 2020); violating transactions are void Source says: "A licensee shall not impose an annual percentage rate greater than thirty-six percent in connection with a delayed deposit transaction." | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 45-901 to 45-931) Source says: "Sections 45-901 to 45-931 shall be known and may be cited as the Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act." | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance (NDBF) Source says: "The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is a state agency under the direct supervision of the Governor." | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit services (payday) licensing administration | NDBF publishes delayed deposit services license guidelines, statutes, and a licensed-business search Source says: "Delayed Deposit Services (Payday Lenders)" | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum on agreed interest (unpaid principal balance) Source says: "any rate of interest which may be agreed upon, not exceeding sixteen percent per annum on the unpaid principal balance, shall be valid" | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Mason City
Run through this list before signing anything in Mason City:
- 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 Nebraska using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.