St. Helena at a glance
- Population: about 430 residents, ranking 434th of 549 Census places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 415 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 3.6% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 434th-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 21% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 34.5166, -77.9174 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Burgaw, NC (2 mi); Wallace, NC (16 mi); Navassa, NC (18 mi); Teachey, NC (18 mi); Topsail Beach, NC (19 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: Watha, NC (10 mi); Atkinson, NC (14 mi); Sandy Creek, NC (21 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in St. Helena
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.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in St. Helena
Each row below is a North Carolina rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 St. Helena
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in St. Helena:
- 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.