Wardsville at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,631, placing it 269th among Missouri's 937 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,599 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 2.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 269th by size among 937 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 71% of Missouri's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.4918 latitude, -92.1825 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Jefferson City, MO (5 mi); Holts Summit, MO (11 mi); Ashland, MO (22 mi); California, MO (23 mi); Eldon, MO (23 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller places: Taos, MO (5 mi); St. Thomas, MO (9 mi); Lohman, MO (10 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Wardsville
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Wardsville
The table lists the Missouri rules that apply to a loan made in Wardsville, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Wardsville
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Wardsville:
- 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.