Plains at a glance
- Population: about 1,017, 190th by size in Kansas of 625 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,040 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.2% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 190th largest of 625 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 70% of Kansas's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.2642, -100.5898 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Meade, KS (14 mi); Sublette, KS (21 mi); Liberal, KS (24 mi); Satanta, KS (25 mi); Beaver, OK (31 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Kismet, KS (7 mi); Copeland, KS (19 mi); Fowler, KS (23 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Plains
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Plains
Each row below is a Kansas rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Plains
Run through this list before signing anything in Plains:
- 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.