Walnut at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 725 residents, ranking 358th of 940 places in Iowa (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 741 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.2% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 358th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 62% of places in Iowa rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.4895, -95.2197 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Avoca, IA (6 mi); Shelby, IA (12 mi); Atlantic, IA (12 mi); Harlan, IA (12 mi); Oakland, IA (15 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Marne, IA (6 mi); Hancock, IA (10 mi); Elk Horn, IA (11 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Walnut
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Walnut
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Walnut: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Walnut
Before you commit to a personal loan in Walnut, work through these steps:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.