Moorhead at a glance
- Population: roughly 189 people; 678th of 940 places in Iowa (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 197 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 4.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 678th of the state's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 28% of Iowa's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.9233, -95.8514 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Pisgah, IA (8 mi); Ute, IA (12 mi); Blencoe, IA (12 mi); Dunlap, IA (14 mi); Onawa, IA (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Soldier, IA (6 mi); Turin, IA (9 mi); Castana, IA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Moorhead
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Moorhead
Each row below is a Iowa rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 Moorhead
Run through this list before signing anything in Moorhead:
- 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.