Melvern at a glance
- Population: roughly 349 people; 330th of 625 places in Kansas (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 355 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.7% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 330th of the state's 625 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 47% of Kansas's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 38.5073, longitude -95.6378 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Lyndon, KS (8 mi); Waverly, KS (8 mi); Williamsburg, KS (9 mi); Pomona, KS (12 mi); Osage City, KS (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Olivet, KS (6 mi); Quenemo, KS (8 mi); Reading, KS (17 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Melvern
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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 Melvern
The table carries the Kansas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Melvern.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Melvern
Before you share your details with a lender in Melvern:
- 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.