Atkinson at a glance
- Population: roughly 336 people; 466th of 549 places in North Carolina (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 299 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 12.4% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 466th by size among 549 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 15% of North Carolina's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.5275 / -78.1697, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: East Arcadia, NC (13 mi); Sandyfield, NC (13 mi); Burgaw, NC (14 mi); St. Helena, NC (14 mi); Northwest, NC (15 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: Harrells, NC (14 mi); Watha, NC (15 mi); Sandy Creek, NC (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Atkinson
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.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Atkinson
Each row below is a North Carolina rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Atkinson
Before you share your details with a lender in Atkinson:
- 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.