Gainesville at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 774 residents, ranking 379th of 937 places in Missouri (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 741 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 4.5% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 379th largest of 937 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 60% of Missouri's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 36.6063, -92.4246 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Lakeview, AR (17 mi); Bull Shoals, AR (19 mi); Mountain Home, AR (19 mi); Gassville, AR (22 mi); Cotter, AR (23 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Theodosia, MO (13 mi); Bakersfield, MO (16 mi); Briarcliff, AR (24 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Gainesville
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Gainesville
The table lists the Missouri rules that apply to a loan made in Gainesville, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Gainesville
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Gainesville:
- 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.