Mount Pleasant at a glance
- Population: about 8,581 residents, ranking 47th of 940 Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 9,273 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 7.5% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 47th in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 95% of Iowa places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.9622, -91.5472 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Fairfield, IA (22 mi); Burlington, IA (25 mi); Fort Madison, IA (26 mi); Keokuk, IA (39 mi); Muscatine, IA (40 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Westwood, IA (4 mi); Rome, IA (7 mi); New London, IA (8 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Mount Pleasant
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Mount Pleasant
The Iowa rate caps and licensing rules that reach Mount Pleasant are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Mount Pleasant
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Mount Pleasant:
- 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.