Smithfield at a glance
- Population: 12,468 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 78th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina.
- 2020 Census base: 11,306 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 10.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 78th of the state's 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 86% of the places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.5238, -78.3522 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Clayton, NC (11 mi); Wendell, NC (19 mi); Garner, NC (19 mi); Knightdale, NC (20 mi); Goldsboro, NC (24 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Selma, NC (4 mi); Wilson's Mills, NC (4 mi); Pine Level, NC (6 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Smithfield
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Smithfield
The table carries the North Carolina rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Smithfield.
| 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 Smithfield
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Smithfield:
- 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.