Oak City at a glance
- Population: 262 people, the 483rd-largest place among North Carolina's 549 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 270 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 3.0% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 483rd-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 12% of North Carolina places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.9625, longitude -77.3051 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Hamilton, NC (6 mi); Robersonville, NC (10 mi); Bethel, NC (11 mi); Lewiston Woodville, NC (13 mi); Scotland Neck, NC (13 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: Hassell, NC (4 mi); Hobgood, NC (7 mi); Speed, NC (8 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Oak City
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.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
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 Oak City
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 Oak City
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Oak City:
- 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.