Westphalia at a glance
- Population: about 134, 765th by size in Iowa of 940 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 132 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 1.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 765th of 940 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 19% of places in Iowa are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.7194, longitude -95.3938 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Earling, IA (4 mi); Panama, IA (4 mi); Harlan, IA (6 mi); Defiance, IA (8 mi); Portsmouth, IA (8 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Kirkman, IA (7 mi); Tennant, IA (9 mi); Buck Grove, IA (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Westphalia
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Westphalia
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Westphalia
A few practical steps will make the process in Westphalia less costly:
- 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.