Meta at a glance
- Population: about 179 residents, ranking 693rd of 937 Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 176 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 1.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 693rd-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 26% of the Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 38.3123, -92.1658 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: St. Thomas, MO (5 mi); St. Elizabeth, MO (7 mi); Wardsville, MO (12 mi); Westphalia, MO (13 mi); Freeburg, MO (13 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Argyle, MO (8 mi); Lohman, MO (19 mi); Olean, MO (21 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Meta
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Meta
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Missouri, and therefore in Meta.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Meta
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Meta:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.