Atlantic Beach at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,407 people; 296th of 549 places in North Carolina (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,374 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 2.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 296th-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 46% of the Census places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.7019 / -76.7423, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Morehead City, NC (2 mi); Pine Knoll Shores, NC (5 mi); Beaufort, NC (5 mi); Newport, NC (9 mi); Emerald Isle, NC (17 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places close by: Indian Beach, NC (9 mi); Bogue, NC (16 mi); Peletier, NC (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Atlantic Beach
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Atlantic Beach
The table lists the North Carolina rules that apply to a loan made in Atlantic Beach, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Atlantic Beach
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Atlantic Beach:
- 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.