Fountain at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 391, placing it 449th among North Carolina's 549 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 382 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 2.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 449th of the state's 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 18% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.6721, -77.6317 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Farmville, NC (6 mi); Macclesfield, NC (6 mi); Pinetops, NC (8 mi); Stantonsburg, NC (11 mi); Greenville, NC (15 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Walstonburg, NC (6 mi); Falkland, NC (7 mi); Saratoga, NC (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fountain
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
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 Fountain
The North Carolina rate caps and licensing rules that reach Fountain are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| 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 Fountain
Before you share your details with a lender in Fountain:
- 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.