Carolina Shores at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 5,307 residents, ranking 137th of 549 places in North Carolina (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 4,589 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 15.6% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 137th in population of 549 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 75% of places in North Carolina rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.9079 latitude, -78.5731 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): North Myrtle Beach, SC (10 mi); Myrtle Beach, SC (23 mi); Oak Island, NC (26 mi); St. James, NC (27 mi); Conway, SC (28 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Calabash, NC (2 mi); Sunset Beach, NC (4 mi); Ocean Isle Beach, NC (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Carolina Shores
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Carolina Shores
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Carolina Shores
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Carolina Shores:
- 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.