Ocean Isle Beach at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 980 residents, ranking 337th of 549 places in North Carolina (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 863 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 13.6% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 337th by size among 549 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 39% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.8876, -78.4621 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Sunset Beach, NC (3 mi); Calabash, NC (5 mi); Carolina Shores, NC (7 mi); Shallotte, NC (8 mi); North Myrtle Beach, SC (15 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Holden Beach, NC (8 mi); Varnamtown, NC (14 mi); Atlantic Beach, SC (16 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Ocean Isle 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.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Ocean Isle Beach
Each row below is a North Carolina rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 Ocean Isle Beach
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Ocean Isle Beach:
- 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.