Catawba at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 719 residents, ranking 376th of 549 places in North Carolina (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 705 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 2.0% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 376th of 549 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 32% of places in North Carolina are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.7076 latitude, -81.0695 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Claremont, NC (5 mi); Conover, NC (8 mi); Newton, NC (10 mi); Troutman, NC (10 mi); Maiden, NC (12 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Brookford, NC (15 mi); Love Valley, NC (20 mi); High Shoals, NC (23 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Catawba
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Catawba
The table lists the North Carolina rules that apply to a loan made in Catawba, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Catawba
Run through this list before signing anything in Catawba:
- 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.