Arlington at a glance
- Population: roughly 418 people; 479th of 940 places in Iowa (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 422 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.9% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 479th in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 49% of Iowa's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.7488, -91.6710 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Strawberry Point, IA (8 mi); Fayette, IA (9 mi); Lamont, IA (10 mi); Maynard, IA (11 mi); Oelwein, IA (13 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Wadena, IA (6 mi); Volga, IA (8 mi); Aurora, IA (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Arlington
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Arlington
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Arlington
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Arlington:
- 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.