Washington at a glance
- Population: 9,683 — 93rd in North Carolina, which has 549 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 9,887 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.1% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 93rd of 549 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 83% of the places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.5580 / -77.0542, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Greenville, NC (18 mi); Winterville, NC (20 mi); New Bern, NC (32 mi); Kinston, NC (36 mi); Tarboro, NC (37 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Washington Park, NC (2 mi); Chocowinity, NC (4 mi); Grimesland, NC (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Washington
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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 Washington
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Washington
Run through this list before signing anything in Washington:
- 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.