McIntosh at a glance
- Population: 584 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 456th-largest of 853 places in Minnesota.
- 2020 Census base: 605 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 3.5% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 456th-largest of 853 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 47% of places in Minnesota rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.6374 latitude, -95.8870 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Fosston, MN (7 mi); Fertile, MN (20 mi); Mahnomen, MN (23 mi); Bagley, MN (24 mi); Red Lake Falls, MN (25 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Erskine, MN (6 mi); Winger, MN (8 mi); Mentor, MN (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in McIntosh
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in McIntosh
The table lists the Minnesota rules that apply to a loan made in McIntosh, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in McIntosh
Before you share your details with a lender in McIntosh:
- 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.