West Bend at a glance
- Population: 31,886 — 27th in Wisconsin, which has 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 31,739 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 0.5% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 27th by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 96% of Wisconsin's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 43.4175, -88.1817.
- Nearest larger cities: Menomonee Falls, WI (18 mi); Brookfield, WI (25 mi); Wauwatosa, WI (26 mi); Milwaukee, WI (27 mi); Fond du Lac, WI (28 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Newburg, WI (7 mi); Jackson, WI (7 mi); Kewaskum, WI (7 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in West Bend
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in West Bend
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Wisconsin, and therefore in West Bend.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in West Bend
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in West Bend:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.