Melvin at a glance
- Population: 196 residents, the 671st-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 202 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 3.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 671st in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 29% of the places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.2865, -95.6086 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Sanborn, IA (8 mi); Ashton, IA (9 mi); Ocheyedan, IA (10 mi); Hartley, IA (10 mi); Sibley, IA (10 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places close by: Archer, IA (14 mi); Harris, IA (14 mi); Matlock, IA (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Melvin
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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.
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.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Melvin
The table lists the Iowa rules that apply to a loan made in Melvin, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Melvin
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Melvin:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.