Wasta at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 62, placing it 262nd among South Dakota's 309 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 63 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.6% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among South Dakota places: 262nd by size among 309 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 15% of the places in South Dakota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.0695, -102.4464 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Wall, SD (11 mi); Quinn, SD (17 mi); New Underwood, SD (20 mi); Box Elder, SD (32 mi); Interior, SD (33 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Cottonwood, SD (28 mi); Belvidere, SD (61 mi); Clinton, NE (91 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Wasta
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
South Dakota lending rules that apply in Wasta
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed money lenders (including payday and title lenders) but capped at 36% APR including all fees and charges; violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor and loans are void. Source says: "no licensee may contract for or receive finance charges pursuant to a loan in excess of an annual rate of thirty-six percent" (SDCL 54-4-44); "A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any loan made in violation of this section is void and uncollectible" (54-4-44). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money Lender license (SDCL ch. 54-4) required for anyone lending money or creating/holding/purchasing retail installment contracts; payday and title lenders are licensed as money lenders. Source says: "to be a Money Lender and subject to the licensing requirements of South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 54-4"; "Payday and title lenders are also licensed as Money Lenders under SDCL Chapter 54-4." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) Source says: "The Division of Banking is charged with the regulation and supervision of state chartered and licensed financial institutions." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Initiated Measure 21 anti-evasion rule (state-specific rule) | Initiated Measure 21 (2016) also bars evasion by indirect means; applies to loans originated, refinanced, rolled over, renewed or flipped after November 15, 2016. Source says: "prohibits these money lenders from evading this rate limitation by indirect means... a loan made in violation of this measure is void" (Division of Banking guidance on Initiated Measure 21). | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | No general maximum/usury restriction when the rate is set by written agreement; specific caps elsewhere in the code apply (e.g., 36% for licensed money lenders). Source says: "no maximum interest rate or charge, or usury rate restriction... if they establish the interest rate or charge by written agreement" (SDCL 54-3-1.1). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Wasta
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Wasta:
- 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 South Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.