Tar Heel at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 90 residents, ranking 534th of 549 places in North Carolina (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 90 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: no meaningful change since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 534th in population of 549 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 3% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 34.7339, -78.7909.
- Nearest larger cities: Dublin, NC (7 mi); St. Pauls, NC (12 mi); Elizabethtown, NC (13 mi); Bladenboro, NC (13 mi); Lumberton, NC (15 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Lumber Bridge, NC (19 mi); Orrum, NC (22 mi); Raynham, NC (25 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Tar Heel
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Tar Heel
The table lists the North Carolina rules that apply to a loan made in Tar Heel, each with the regulator that published it.
| 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 Tar Heel
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Tar Heel:
- 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.