Ralston at a glance
- Population: 77 residents, the 854th-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 79 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.5% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 854th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 9% of Iowa's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 42.0419, -94.6293 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Scranton, IA (4 mi); Glidden, IA (5 mi); Lidderdale, IA (10 mi); Lanesboro, IA (10 mi); Churdan, IA (11 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Willey, IA (11 mi); Dana, IA (21 mi); Rinard, IA (22 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ralston
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Ralston
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Ralston
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Ralston:
- 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.