Bigelow at a glance
- Population: about 219 residents, ranking 632nd of 853 Census places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 227 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.5% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 632nd by size among 853 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 26% of Minnesota places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.5053 / -95.6892, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Sibley, IA (8 mi); Rushmore, MN (10 mi); Worthington, MN (10 mi); Ocheyedan, IA (10 mi); Little Rock, IA (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Harris, IA (13 mi); Melvin, IA (16 mi); Lismore, MN (21 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bigelow
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Bigelow
The table carries the Minnesota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bigelow.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bigelow
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Bigelow:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.