Alden at a glance
- Population: 738 people, the 351st-largest place among Iowa's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 763 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 3.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 351st largest of 940 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 63% of places in Iowa rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 42.5115, -93.3806.
- Nearest larger cities: Iowa Falls, IA (6 mi); Hubbard, IA (15 mi); Ackley, IA (17 mi); Eldora, IA (18 mi); Hampton, IA (18 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Popejoy, IA (6 mi); Buckeye, IA (6 mi); Williams, IA (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Alden
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Alden
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Iowa, and therefore in Alden.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Alden
Before you share your details with a lender in Alden:
- 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.