Dallas at a glance
- Population: 6,156 — 126th in North Carolina, which has 549 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,936 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 3.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 126th-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 77% of places in North Carolina rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.3179, longitude -81.1832 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Gastonia, NC (5 mi); Mount Holly, NC (10 mi); Belmont, NC (10 mi); Kings Mountain, NC (11 mi); Lincolnton, NC (11 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Ranlo, NC (4 mi); High Shoals, NC (5 mi); Lowell, NC (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Dallas
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Dallas
The table carries the North Carolina rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Dallas.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Dallas
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Dallas:
- 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.