Wapello at a glance
- Population: 2,013, the 164th-largest community in Iowa out of 940 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 2,085 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 3.5% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 164th largest of 940 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 83% of the places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.1772, longitude -91.1890 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Muscatine, IA (18 mi); Aledo, IL (23 mi); Mount Pleasant, IA (24 mi); West Burlington, IA (25 mi); Burlington, IA (26 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Morning Sun, IA (7 mi); Grandview, IA (7 mi); Oakville, IA (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Wapello
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed 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 longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Wapello
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Wapello
Run through this list before signing anything in Wapello:
- 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.