Saco at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 161, placing it 113th among Montana's 127 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 160 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 0.6% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Montana places: 113th-largest of 127 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 11% of the Census places in Montana (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 48.4571, -107.3413 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Malta, MT (25 mi); Glasgow, MT (37 mi); Nashua, MT (50 mi); Fort Peck, MT (51 mi); Harlem, MT (66 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller places: Dodson, MT (42 mi); Opheim, MT (51 mi); Flaxville, MT (102 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Saco
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Montana lending rules that apply in Saco
Each row below is a Montana rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required under the Montana Consumer Loan Act (32-5-101); licensing through NMLS Source says: "A consumer loan license is needed to engage in business as defined in the Montana Consumer Loan Act" | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (BFID), Department of Administration Source says: "The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (Division) does all of its licensing through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)." | Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred deposit loan license requirement (MCA 31-1-705) | A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department Source says: "A person may not engage in or offer to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans unless licensed by the department." | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Greater of 15% or prime rate + 6 percentage points per year (written agreement); regulated lenders exempt Source says: "Parties may agree in writing to the payment of any rate of interest that does not exceed the greater of 15%" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; deferred deposit lenders must be licensed; fee capped at 36% per annum Source says: "A licensee may not charge a fee for making or carrying each deferred deposit loan authorized by this part that exceeds 36% per annum" | Montana Legislative Services Division (Montana Code Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Saco
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Saco:
- 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 Montana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.