Shelby at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 3,270, placing it 22nd among Montana's 127 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 3,173 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 3.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Montana places: 22nd out of 127 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 83% of the places in Montana (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 48.5021, -111.8620 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Great Falls, MT (74 mi); Havre, MT (100 mi); Columbia Falls, MT (107 mi); Whitefish, MT (114 mi); Kalispell, MT (115 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Kevin, MT (17 mi); Valier, MT (22 mi); Conrad, MT (23 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Shelby
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Montana lending rules that apply in Shelby
Each row below is a Montana rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (BFID), Department of Administration Source says: "The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (Division) does all of its licensing through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)." | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred deposit loan license requirement (MCA 31-1-705) | A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department Source says: "A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department." | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Greater of 15% or prime rate + 6 percentage points per year (written agreement); regulated lenders exempt Source says: "Parties may agree in writing to the payment of any rate of interest that does not exceed the greater of 15%" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; deferred deposit lenders must be licensed; fee capped at 36% per annum Source says: "A licensee may not charge a fee for making or carrying each deferred deposit loan authorized by this part that exceeds 36% per annum" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required under the Montana Consumer Loan Act (32-5-101); licensing through NMLS Source says: "A consumer loan license is needed to engage in business as defined in the Montana Consumer Loan Act" | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Shelby
Before you share your details with a lender in Shelby:
- 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 Montana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.