Lake St. Louis at a glance
- Population: about 18,661 residents, ranking 38th of 937 Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 16,706 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 11.7% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 38th out of 937 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 96% of places in Missouri rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 38.7799, longitude -90.7856 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: O'Fallon, MO (4 mi); Wentzville, MO (5 mi); St. Peters, MO (10 mi); Chesterfield, MO (14 mi); St. Charles, MO (15 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: Josephville, MO (4 mi); Dardenne Prairie, MO (5 mi); St. Paul, MO (5 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Lake St. Louis
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Lake St. Louis
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Lake St. Louis: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Lake St. Louis
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Lake St. Louis:
- 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.