Patterson at a glance
- Population: 175 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 700th-largest of 940 places in Iowa.
- 2020 Census base: 175 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about the same as at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 700th of 940 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 26% of places in Iowa rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.3484, -93.8776 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: St. Charles, IA (6 mi); Winterset, IA (7 mi); Martensdale, IA (7 mi); Truro, IA (10 mi); Cumming, IA (11 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Bevington, IA (5 mi); St. Marys, IA (8 mi); East Peru, IA (9 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Patterson
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
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 Patterson
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 Patterson
A few practical steps will make the process in Patterson less costly:
- 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.