Columbus at a glance
- Population: 131, the 191st-largest community in North Dakota out of 355 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 136 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 3.7% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 191st of 355 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 46% of North Dakota's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 48.9050, -102.7812 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Lignite, ND (10 mi); Noonan, ND (10 mi); Crosby, ND (23 mi); Powers Lake, ND (24 mi); Bowbells, ND (25 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Portal, ND (12 mi); Flaxton, ND (18 mi); Wildrose, ND (26 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Columbus
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed 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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in Columbus
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in North Dakota, and therefore in Columbus.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Columbus
Before you share your details with a lender in Columbus:
- 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 North Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.