Smith Center at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,585, placing it 140th among Kansas's 625 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,576 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.6% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 140th of the state's 625 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 78% of the places in Kansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 39.7739, -98.7835 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Phillipsburg, KS (29 mi); Beloit, KS (42 mi); Superior, NE (42 mi); Plainville, KS (46 mi); Minden, NE (51 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Athol, KS (7 mi); Gaylord, KS (9 mi); Cedar, KS (12 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Smith Center
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Smith Center
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Kansas, and therefore in Smith Center.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Smith Center
Before you share your details with a lender in Smith Center:
- 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.