Clay Center at a glance
- Population: about 4,094, 73rd by size in Kansas of 625 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 4,191 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.3% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 73rd by size among 625 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 88% of the places in Kansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 39.3812, -97.1274 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Junction City, KS (29 mi); Concordia, KS (31 mi); Manhattan, KS (31 mi); Abilene, KS (32 mi); Wamego, KS (45 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Morganville, KS (7 mi); Green, KS (8 mi); Wakefield, KS (13 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Clay Center
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Clay Center
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Clay Center
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Clay Center:
- 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.