Holden Beach at a glance
- Population: 939 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 340th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina.
- 2020 Census base: 918 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 2.3% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 340th largest of 549 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 38% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.9120 / -78.3208, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Shallotte, NC (6 mi); Ocean Isle Beach, NC (8 mi); Sunset Beach, NC (11 mi); Oak Island, NC (12 mi); Calabash, NC (13 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Varnamtown, NC (6 mi); Bolivia, NC (15 mi); Caswell Beach, NC (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Holden Beach
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Holden Beach
The table carries the North Carolina rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Holden Beach.
| 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 Holden Beach
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Holden 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.