Prescott at a glance
- Population: about 183, 683rd by size in Iowa of 940 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 190 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 3.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 683rd of the state's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 27% of Iowa places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.0236, longitude -94.6128 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Corning, IA (7 mi); Lenox, IA (10 mi); Creston, IA (13 mi); Orient, IA (16 mi); Clearfield, IA (17 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Cromwell, IA (8 mi); Carbon, IA (11 mi); Sharpsburg, IA (15 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Prescott
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Prescott
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Iowa, and therefore in Prescott.
| 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 Prescott
Before you commit to a personal loan in Prescott, 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.