Personal loans in Golden Valley, MN
With about 21,211 residents, Golden Valley ranks 56th by population among the 853 Census places in Minnesota. Its population fell about 6.0% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate. If you are shopping for a personal loan in Golden Valley, the rules that govern the loan are Minnesota's statewide consumer-lending statutes, and the nearest larger metro is St. Louis Park, MN about 3 miles away.
What is specific to borrowing in Golden Valley
- Population: 21,211 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate) — the 56th-largest place of 853 in Minnesota.
- Population trend: Its population fell about 6.0% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate.
- Size percentile: larger than about 93% of the Census places in Minnesota.
- Location: 44.9902, -93.3587 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: St. Louis Park (3 mi); Crystal (3 mi); Minneapolis (5 mi); Plymouth (6 mi); Brooklyn Center (6 mi). Larger metros often have more walk-in branches, but online lenders serve Golden Valley on the same terms.
- Nearest smaller towns: Robbinsdale (3 mi); Medicine Lake (3 mi); New Hope (3 mi).
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Golden Valley
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How a personal loan works in Golden Valley
Most loans offered to Golden Valley residents are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged and the lender relies on your credit history instead. That is why the quoted APR moves so much with your credit score: a borrower with excellent credit may see a single-digit APR, while a borrower with damaged credit may see rates in the high twenties or thirties. Checking your credit report before you apply — and disputing any error — is the highest-leverage step you can take.
Before you apply in Golden Valley
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run the numbers with our personal loan calculator so you know the payment before a lender tells you.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check the lender is licensed in Minnesota using the regulator listed above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get a personal loan with bad credit in Golden Valley?
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Golden Valley?
Does a personal loan in Golden Valley require collateral?
Will shopping for a loan in Golden Valley hurt my credit?
Nearby places
- St. Louis Park, MN — population 49,697
- Robbinsdale, MN — population 13,968
- Crystal, MN — population 21,906
- New Hope, MN — population 20,705
- Medicine Lake, MN — population 317
- Hopkins, MN — population 18,589
- Brooklyn Center, MN — population 31,688
- Minneapolis, MN — population 425,115