Peterson at a glance
- Population: about 228, 625th by size in Minnesota of 853 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 232 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.7% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 625th-largest of 853 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 27% of Minnesota's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 43.7885, -91.8320 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Rushford Village, MN (3 mi); Rushford, MN (4 mi); Lanesboro, MN (9 mi); Houston, MN (13 mi); Lewiston, MN (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Whalan, MN (6 mi); Minnesota City, MN (21 mi); Elba, MN (23 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Peterson
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Peterson
The table carries the Minnesota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Peterson.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Peterson
Before you commit to a personal loan in Peterson, 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.