St. Charles at a glance
- Population: 643 residents, the 389th-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 642 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 0.2% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 389th by size among 940 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 59% of Iowa places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 41.2872, -93.8075.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Winterset, IA (12 mi); Indianola, IA (14 mi); Norwalk, IA (15 mi); Osceola, IA (17 mi); Van Meter, IA (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: St. Marys, IA (4 mi); Bevington, IA (5 mi); Patterson, IA (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in St. Charles
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our 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.
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 St. Charles
The table lists the Iowa rules that apply to a loan made in St. Charles, each with the regulator that published it.
| 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 St. Charles
Before you commit to a personal loan in St. Charles, work through these steps:
- 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.