North Carolina lender directory
Payday Loans in North Carolina: Rates Capped at 33%. Here Are the Legal Options
We list no payday loan stores in North Carolina, and North Carolina law caps what lenders can charge. Below is what the law says, and the licensed ways to borrow in North Carolina that we track.
What North Carolina law says
A Consumer Finance Act licensee making an installment loan of $12,000 or less (up to $25,000 total, 12 to 96 months) may charge up to 33 percent a year on the first $4,000 of unpaid balance, 24 percent on the next $4,000 and 18 percent on the rest.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-176(a)(1) · verified Oct 9, 2026A loan to someone in North Carolina has to stay within this limit unless the lender is licensed or otherwise authorized by North Carolina law to charge more. We list no payday loan stores in North Carolina; the licensed options we track are below.
Related rules
- A licensed check casher may not engage in the business of making loans or extensions of credit, or accepting deposits or bailments of money or items, except as G.S. 53-281 expressly provides. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-283(2) · verified Oct 9, 2026
- A licensed check casher that cashes a check for a fee must deposit it within three business days of cashing it, so it cannot hold the check for later deposit. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-280(b) · verified Oct 9, 2026
Licensed lenders in North Carolina
These types of lenders operate legally in North Carolina, each under its own rules and costs. Compare the total cost before you borrow.
If someone offers you a payday loan in North Carolina
Some lenders based in other states or online still advertise payday loans to North Carolina residents. A loan from a lender that is not licensed in North Carolina may not come with the protections that licensed lenders must give, such as cost limits and complaint rights. Before you borrow, check that the lender is licensed in North Carolina using the North Carolina OCOB license search.
To report a lender or ask a question, contact the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB).
Questions people ask
Are payday loans legal in North Carolina?
We list no payday loan stores in North Carolina. A Consumer Finance Act licensee making an installment loan of $12,000 or less (up to $25,000 total, 12 to 96 months) may charge up to 33 percent a year on the first $4,000 of unpaid balance, 24 percent on the next $4,000 and 18 percent on the rest (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-176(a)(1)).
Answers are generated from the listings and verified rules on this page; see Sources below.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and when we last checked them.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-176(a)(1) · Interest rate cap Last verified Oct 9, 2026 · medium confidence
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-283(2) · Payday loans (deferred presentment) Last verified Oct 9, 2026 · medium confidence
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-280(b) · Payday loans (deferred presentment) Last verified Oct 9, 2026 · medium confidence
- North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) · Licensing and complaints Date not recorded
We re-check sources regularly and show the date each was last verified. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll check it against the source.
CashAdvance is not a lender and does not take applications. Listings are information only, built from public records (such as state license lists) and lenders' own published details. Confirm hours, fees and terms with the lender before you visit or borrow.