Rockingham at a glance
- Population: 8,890 residents, the 100th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 9,246 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.9% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 100th by size among 549 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 82% of North Carolina's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.9386, -79.7603 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Laurinburg, NC (20 mi); Aberdeen, NC (23 mi); Pinehurst, NC (24 mi); Southern Pines, NC (27 mi); Albemarle, NC (38 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places nearby: Dobbins Heights, NC (4 mi); Hamlet, NC (4 mi); Ellerbe, NC (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Rockingham
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Rockingham
The table carries the North Carolina rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Rockingham.
| 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 Rockingham
Before you share your details with a lender in Rockingham:
- 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.