Kiel at a glance
- Population: about 3,956 residents, ranking 172nd of 605 Census places in Wisconsin (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 3,941 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.4% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 172nd of 605 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 72% of Wisconsin's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.9160 latitude, -88.0265 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Plymouth, WI (12 mi); Sheboygan Falls, WI (16 mi); Sheboygan, WI (19 mi); Manitowoc, WI (21 mi); Fond du Lac, WI (23 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller places: New Holstein, WI (4 mi); Elkhart Lake, WI (6 mi); St. Nazianz, WI (8 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Kiel
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.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Kiel
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Wisconsin, and therefore in Kiel.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Kiel
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Kiel:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.