Elmer at a glance
- Population: about 51, 879th by size in Missouri of 937 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 52 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.9% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 879th by size among 937 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 6% of places in Missouri are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.9579, -92.6488 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: La Plata, MO (10 mi); Atlanta, MO (10 mi); Millard, MO (12 mi); Callao, MO (14 mi); New Cambria, MO (14 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: South Gifford, MO (5 mi); Ethel, MO (7 mi); Pollock, MO (36 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Elmer
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Elmer
The Missouri rate caps and licensing rules that reach Elmer are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Elmer
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Elmer:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.