Monroe at a glance
- Population: 37,797 residents, the 28th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 34,619 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 9.2% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 28th out of 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 95% of the places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.0016, -80.5613 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Indian Trail, NC (7 mi); Charlotte, NC (21 mi); Rock Hill, SC (26 mi); Concord, NC (27 mi); Huntersville, NC (33 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Unionville, NC (6 mi); Wingate, NC (7 mi); Lake Park, NC (7 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Monroe
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
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 Monroe
Each row below is a North Carolina rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Monroe
A few practical steps will make the process in Monroe less costly:
- 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.