McDonald at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 92, placing it 533rd among North Carolina's 549 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 93 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 1.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 533rd by size among 549 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 3% of North Carolina places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 34.5537, longitude -79.1763 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Fairmont, NC (5 mi); Rowland, NC (7 mi); Pembroke, NC (9 mi); Proctorville, NC (10 mi); Lumberton, NC (10 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Raynham, NC (2 mi); Orrum, NC (11 mi); Lumber Bridge, NC (24 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in McDonald
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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 longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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 McDonald
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| 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 McDonald
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in McDonald:
- 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.