Searsboro at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 127 residents, ranking 774th of 940 places in Iowa (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 129 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.6% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 774th of 940 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 18% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.5791, longitude -92.7041 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Lynnville, IA (4 mi); Sully, IA (7 mi); New Sharon, IA (8 mi); Montezuma, IA (9 mi); Grinnell, IA (11 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller places: Gibson, IA (18 mi); Guernsey, IA (19 mi); Thornburg, IA (21 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Searsboro
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Searsboro
Each row below is a Iowa rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Searsboro
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Searsboro:
- 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.