Red Cloud at a glance
- Population: 946 — 116th in Nebraska, which has 527 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 967 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 Nebraska places: 116th by size among 527 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 78% of Nebraska places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.0864, -98.5222.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Superior, NE (25 mi); Smith Center, KS (26 mi); Hastings, NE (36 mi); Minden, NE (37 mi); Alma, NE (45 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Cowles, NE (7 mi); Guide Rock, NE (10 mi); Riverton, NE (13 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Red Cloud
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Nebraska lending rules that apply in Red Cloud
The table carries the Nebraska rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Red Cloud.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 45-901 to 45-931) Source says: "Sections 45-901 to 45-931 shall be known and may be cited as the Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act." | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance (NDBF) Source says: "The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is a state agency under the direct supervision of the Governor." | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit services (payday) licensing administration | NDBF publishes delayed deposit services license guidelines, statutes, and a licensed-business search Source says: "Delayed Deposit Services (Payday Lenders)" | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum on agreed interest (unpaid principal balance) Source says: "any rate of interest which may be agreed upon, not exceeding sixteen percent per annum on the unpaid principal balance, shall be valid" | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Capped at 36% APR (Initiative 428, 2020); violating transactions are void Source says: "A licensee shall not impose an annual percentage rate greater than thirty-six percent in connection with a delayed deposit transaction." | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Red Cloud
Before you commit to a personal loan in Red Cloud, 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 Nebraska using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.