Turtle Lake at a glance
- Population: 537 — 89th in North Dakota, which has 355 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 542 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.9% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 89th by size among 355 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 75% of places in North Dakota are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 47.5215, -100.8908 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Underwood, ND (13 mi); Washburn, ND (17 mi); Wilton, ND (26 mi); Garrison, ND (26 mi); Center, ND (34 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Mercer, ND (9 mi); Coleharbor, ND (15 mi); McClusky, ND (21 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Turtle Lake
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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 longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in Turtle Lake
The table lists the North Dakota rules that apply to a loan made in Turtle Lake, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Turtle Lake
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Turtle Lake:
- 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.