North Topsail Beach at a glance
- Population: about 1,069, 329th by size in North Carolina of 549 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,008 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 6.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 329th out of 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 40% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 34.4885, longitude -77.4375 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Surf City, NC (7 mi); Holly Ridge, NC (7 mi); Jacksonville, NC (17 mi); Swansboro, NC (22 mi); Cedar Point, NC (24 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Topsail Beach, NC (15 mi); Peletier, NC (27 mi); Bogue, NC (27 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in North Topsail 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.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in North Topsail Beach
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in North Carolina, and therefore in North Topsail Beach.
| 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 North Topsail Beach
A few practical steps will make the process in North Topsail Beach 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.