Deer Lodge at a glance
- Population: 3,030 — 25th in Montana, which has 127 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 3,030 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about the same as at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Montana places: 25th of the state's 127 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 80% of the Census places in Montana (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 46.3983, -112.7333 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT (29 mi); Helena, MT (37 mi); Hamilton, MT (69 mi); Missoula, MT (70 mi); Dillon, MT (82 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Walkerville, MT (27 mi); Drummond, MT (27 mi); Philipsburg, MT (27 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Deer Lodge
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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.
Montana lending rules that apply in Deer Lodge
The Montana rate caps and licensing rules that reach Deer Lodge are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Greater of 15% or prime rate + 6 percentage points per year (written agreement); regulated lenders exempt Source says: "Parties may agree in writing to the payment of any rate of interest that does not exceed the greater of 15%" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; deferred deposit lenders must be licensed; fee capped at 36% per annum Source says: "A licensee may not charge a fee for making or carrying each deferred deposit loan authorized by this part that exceeds 36% per annum" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required under the Montana Consumer Loan Act (32-5-101); licensing through NMLS Source says: "A consumer loan license is needed to engage in business as defined in the Montana Consumer Loan Act" | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (BFID), Department of Administration Source says: "The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (Division) does all of its licensing through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)." | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred deposit loan license requirement (MCA 31-1-705) | A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department Source says: "A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department." | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Deer Lodge
Before you share your details with a lender in Deer Lodge:
- 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 Montana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.