Winona at a glance
- Population: 981 — 341st in Missouri, which has 937 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 951 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 3.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Missouri places: 341st of the state's 937 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 64% of places in Missouri are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 37.0042, -91.3270 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Mountain View, MO (21 mi); Willow Springs, MO (35 mi); West Plains, MO (35 mi); Thayer, MO (35 mi); Piedmont, MO (36 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Birch Tree, MO (9 mi); Eminence, MO (10 mi); Van Buren, MO (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Winona
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Winona
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Winona: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Winona
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Winona:
- 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.