Lincoln at a glance
- Population: 1,200 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 314th-largest of 937 places in Missouri.
- 2020 Census base: 1,141 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.2% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 314th by size among 937 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 66% of the places in Missouri (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.3941, -93.3307 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Warsaw, MO (10 mi); Windsor, MO (14 mi); Sedalia, MO (22 mi); Clinton, MO (24 mi); Versailles, MO (26 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Ionia, MO (8 mi); Cole Camp, MO (8 mi); Tightwad, MO (13 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Lincoln
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
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.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Lincoln
The table lists the Missouri rules that apply to a loan made in Lincoln, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Lincoln
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Lincoln:
- 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.