Lewis at a glance
- Population: 362 — 518th in Iowa, which has 940 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 359 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.8% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 518th in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 45% of Iowa's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 41.3064, -95.0843 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Griswold, IA (6 mi); Atlantic, IA (7 mi); Walnut, IA (14 mi); Oakland, IA (16 mi); Avoca, IA (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Marne, IA (10 mi); Cumberland, IA (11 mi); Elliott, IA (12 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Lewis
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.
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.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Lewis
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Lewis: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Lewis
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Lewis:
- 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.