Oakland at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,518, placing it 205th among Iowa's 940 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,523 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 0.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 205th in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 78% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.3104, -95.3997 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Avoca, IA (12 mi); Atlantic, IA (20 mi); Red Oak, IA (22 mi); Harlan, IA (24 mi); Council Bluffs, IA (24 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Carson, IA (5 mi); Hancock, IA (6 mi); Macedonia, IA (8 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Oakland
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Oakland
The Iowa rate caps and licensing rules that reach Oakland are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Oakland
A few practical steps will make the process in Oakland less costly:
- 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.