Independence at a glance
- Population: 8,315 — 44th in Kansas, which has 625 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 8,579 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.1% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Kansas places: 44th of 625 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 93% of Kansas's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.2335 latitude, -95.7160 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Coffeyville, KS (14 mi); Parsons, KS (26 mi); Chanute, KS (33 mi); Bartlesville, OK (37 mi); Miami, OK (52 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Liberty, KS (8 mi); Cherryvale, KS (9 mi); Elk City, KS (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Independence
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Independence
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Independence
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Independence:
- 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.