Stella at a glance
- Population: 168 — 707th in Missouri, which has 937 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 165 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.8% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 707th of 937 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 25% of Missouri's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 36.7626, -94.1911 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Fairview, MO (7 mi); Wheaton, MO (7 mi); Newtonia, MO (8 mi); Granby, MO (12 mi); Neosho, MO (12 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Stark City, MO (7 mi); Ritchey, MO (13 mi); Wentworth, MO (17 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Stella
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed 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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
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.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Stella
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Stella: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Stella
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Stella:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.