Clearwater at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 324 residents, ranking 248th of 527 places in Nebraska (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 320 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 1.2% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Nebraska places: 248th of the state's 527 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 53% of Nebraska's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.1708 / -98.1895, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Neligh, NE (9 mi); Ewing, NE (10 mi); Orchard, NE (12 mi); Elgin, NE (14 mi); Tilden, NE (20 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Royal, NE (12 mi); Oakdale, NE (13 mi); Brunswick, NE (16 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Clearwater
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Nebraska lending rules that apply in Clearwater
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Clearwater: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum on agreed interest (unpaid principal balance) Source says: "any rate of interest which may be agreed upon, not exceeding sixteen percent per annum on the unpaid principal balance, shall be valid" | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Capped at 36% APR (Initiative 428, 2020); violating transactions are void Source says: "A licensee shall not impose an annual percentage rate greater than thirty-six percent in connection with a delayed deposit transaction." | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 45-901 to 45-931) Source says: "Sections 45-901 to 45-931 shall be known and may be cited as the Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act." | Nebraska Legislature (Nebraska Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance (NDBF) Source says: "The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is a state agency under the direct supervision of the Governor." | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit services (payday) licensing administration | NDBF publishes delayed deposit services license guidelines, statutes, and a licensed-business search Source says: "Delayed Deposit Services (Payday Lenders)" | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Clearwater
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Clearwater:
- 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 Nebraska using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.