St. Thomas at a glance
- Population: 312 people, the 121st-largest place among North Dakota's 355 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 320 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 121st of 355 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 66% of North Dakota's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 48.6192, -97.4471 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Drayton, ND (13 mi); Grafton, ND (14 mi); Cavalier, ND (14 mi); Park River, ND (21 mi); Minto, ND (23 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Crystal, ND (10 mi); Hoople, ND (10 mi); Canton City (Hensel), ND (11 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in St. Thomas
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
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.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in St. Thomas
Each row below is a North Dakota rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in St. Thomas
Run through this list before signing anything in St. Thomas:
- 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 North Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.