Personal loans in Rice Lake, WI
Rice Lake is a small town in Wisconsin, home to roughly 9,012 people and larger than about 82% of the places in the state. Its population fell about 0.4% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate. Personal loans taken out in Rice Lake are governed by Wisconsin's lending law rather than by any local ordinance, which is why two neighbors with different credit histories can be quoted very different rates.
What is specific to borrowing in Rice Lake
- Population: 9,012 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate) — the 107th-largest place of 605 in Wisconsin.
- Population trend: Its population fell about 0.4% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate.
- Size percentile: larger than about 82% of the Census places in Wisconsin.
- Location: 45.4820, -91.7458 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Chippewa Falls (42 mi); Menomonie (42 mi); New Richmond (46 mi); Eau Claire (47 mi); Altoona (49 mi). Larger metros often have more walk-in branches, but online lenders serve Rice Lake on the same terms.
- Nearest smaller towns: Cameron (5 mi); Barron (7 mi); Haugen (9 mi).
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Rice Lake
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How a personal loan works in Rice Lake
When you apply for a personal loan in Rice Lake, most lenders start with pre-qualification, which uses a soft credit pull and does not affect your score. That lets you see estimated rates from several lenders before committing. Only when you accept an offer and complete a full application does the lender run a hard inquiry, which may ding your score by a few points for a short period. Rate-shopping within a focused window is treated as a single inquiry by most scoring models.
Before you apply in Rice Lake
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator listed above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.
Advertising disclosure: Loansloth may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. Read the full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a personal loan with bad credit in Rice Lake?
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Rice Lake?
Does a personal loan in Rice Lake require collateral?
Will shopping for a loan in Rice Lake hurt my credit?
Nearby places
- Cameron, WI — population 1,857
- Barron, WI — population 3,663
- Haugen, WI — population 258
- Chetek, WI — population 2,161
- Dallas, WI — population 353
- Birchwood, WI — population 405
- Cumberland, WI — population 2,304
- Shell Lake, WI — population 1,384