Bald Head Island at a glance
- Population: 281 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 477th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina.
- 2020 Census base: 263 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 6.8% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 477th of the state's 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 13% of the Census places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 33.8663, -77.9809 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Caswell Beach, NC (5 mi); Southport, NC (5 mi); Oak Island, NC (9 mi); St. James, NC (9 mi); Kure Beach, NC (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Bolivia, NC (17 mi); Watha, NC (54 mi); Harrells, NC (61 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Bald Head Island
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
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 Bald Head Island
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Bald Head Island: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Bald Head Island
A few practical steps will make the process in Bald Head Island less costly:
- 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.