Ruth at a glance
- Population: 355 — 461st in North Carolina, which has 549 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 346 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.6% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 461st-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 16% of North Carolina's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 35.3824, -81.9448 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Rutherfordton, NC (2 mi); Spindale, NC (2 mi); Forest City, NC (5 mi); Bostic, NC (6 mi); Ellenboro, NC (11 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Mooresboro, NC (15 mi); Chimney Rock Village, NC (18 mi); Casar, NC (21 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Ruth
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Ruth
The North Carolina rate caps and licensing rules that reach Ruth are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Ruth
Run through this list before signing anything in Ruth:
- 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.