Fair Bluff at a glance
- Population: 737 people, the 373rd-largest place among North Carolina's 549 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 707 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 4.2% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 373rd-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 32% of places in North Carolina are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.3126 latitude, -79.0331 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Lake View, SC (8 mi); Chadbourn, NC (12 mi); Fairmont, NC (13 mi); Tabor City, NC (14 mi); Mullins, SC (15 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Cerro Gordo, NC (6 mi); Marietta, NC (6 mi); Nichols, SC (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Fair Bluff
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
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.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Fair Bluff
The North Carolina rate caps and licensing rules that reach Fair Bluff are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Fair Bluff
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Fair Bluff:
- 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.