Oak Island at a glance
- Population: roughly 9,480 people; 96th of 549 places in North Carolina (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 8,398 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 12.9% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 96th by size among 549 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 83% of North Carolina's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.9133, -78.1198 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Leland, NC (21 mi); Wilmington, NC (24 mi); North Myrtle Beach, SC (34 mi); Myrtle Beach, SC (46 mi); Conway, SC (54 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: St. James, NC (2 mi); Caswell Beach, NC (4 mi); Southport, NC (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Oak Island
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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 lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
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 Oak Island
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Oak Island
Run through this list before signing anything in Oak Island:
- 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.