McGrath at a glance
- Population: 43, the 834th-largest community in Minnesota out of 853 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 43 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: stable between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 834th of the state's 853 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 2% of the places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 46.2421, longitude -93.2751 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Isle, MN (11 mi); Wahkon, MN (15 mi); Finlayson, MN (17 mi); Rutledge, MN (19 mi); Sandstone, MN (21 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Denham, MN (18 mi); Hillman, MN (34 mi); Boy River, MN (76 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in McGrath
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would 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.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in McGrath
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Minnesota, and therefore in McGrath.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in McGrath
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in McGrath:
- 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.