Matthews at a glance
- Population: about 30,934 residents, ranking 36th of 549 Census places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 29,428 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.1% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 36th largest of 549 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 93% of places in North Carolina rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.1198, longitude -80.7097 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Indian Trail, NC (5 mi); Charlotte, NC (9 mi); Monroe, NC (12 mi); Fort Mill, SC (15 mi); Concord, NC (19 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Stallings, NC (3 mi); Hemby Bridge, NC (5 mi); Lake Park, NC (5 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Matthews
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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 Matthews
The table lists the North Carolina rules that apply to a loan made in Matthews, each with the regulator that published it.
| 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 Matthews
Before you share your details with a lender in Matthews:
- 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.