Guthrie Center at a glance
- Population: about 1,579 residents, ranking 198th of 940 Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,588 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.6% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 198th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 79% of the Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.6779, longitude -94.4992 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Stuart, IA (15 mi); Audubon, IA (22 mi); Perry, IA (24 mi); Jefferson, IA (24 mi); Adel, IA (26 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: Panora, IA (7 mi); Yale, IA (10 mi); Casey, IA (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Guthrie Center
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Guthrie Center
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Iowa, and therefore in Guthrie Center.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Guthrie Center
Before you share your details with a lender in Guthrie Center:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.