Elwood at a glance
- Population: 1,122, the 174th-largest community in Kansas out of 625 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,120 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.2% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 174th by size among 625 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 72% of Kansas's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 39.7515, longitude -94.8934 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Wathena, KS (2 mi); St. Joseph, MO (4 mi); Country Club, MO (8 mi); Savannah, MO (13 mi); Atchison, KS (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Amazonia, MO (10 mi); Agency, MO (10 mi); Troy, KS (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Elwood
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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 term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Elwood
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 Elwood
A few practical steps will make the process in Elwood less costly:
- 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.