Northwood at a glance
- Population: 950 — 55th in North Dakota, which has 355 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 980 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.1% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 55th largest of 355 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 85% of the places in North Dakota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 47.7314, longitude -97.5652 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Larimore, ND (13 mi); Mayville, ND (20 mi); Thompson, ND (22 mi); Grand Forks, ND (26 mi); East Grand Forks, MN (29 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Hatton, ND (8 mi); Emerado, ND (17 mi); Sharon, ND (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Northwood
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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 lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in Northwood
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in North Dakota, and therefore in Northwood.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Northwood
Before you commit to a personal loan in Northwood, work through these steps:
- 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 North Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.