Bethel at a glance
- Population: 1,399, the 298th-largest community in North Carolina out of 549 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,373 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 1.9% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 298th out of 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 46% of the places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.8072 latitude, -77.3762 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Tarboro, NC (12 mi); Greenville, NC (15 mi); Williamston, NC (18 mi); Farmville, NC (19 mi); Winterville, NC (19 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Parmele, NC (4 mi); Conetoe, NC (5 mi); Robersonville, NC (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Bethel
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Bethel
The table carries the North Carolina rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Bethel.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bethel
Before you commit to a personal loan in Bethel, work through these steps:
- 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.