Installment Loans in North Carolina
North Carolina permits regulated consumer-finance installment loans up to $25,000. Within PLS Cash Advance’s current $200–$5,000 range, the law uses tiered simple-interest ceilings, processing-fee limits, 12–96 month terms, and substantially equal monthly payments.
North Carolina legal category: Consumer Finance Act Installment Loan · North Carolina Consumer Finance Act, Article 15 of Chapter 53
North Carolina installment loans at a glance
- Legal status
- Permitted Regulated
- Legal category
- Consumer Finance Act Installment Loan
- Maximum amount in this regime
- $25,000
- Term
- Covered loans under G.S. 53-176 may not be repayable in fewer than 12 months or more than 96 months. The first monthly payment generally may not be due more than 45 days after funds are disbursed.
- Regulator
- North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB)
- Verified
- 2026-09-06
Choose a loan type by amount
PLS Cash Advance currently presents request amounts from $200 to $5,000. The ranges below are navigation guidance between our state loan guides — not statutory limits, eligibility rules, or a promise of approval.
Payday Loans in North Carolina
North Carolina does not authorize payday lending. The former payday authorization expired in 2001, so the current PLS Cash Advance selector routes visitors to regulated installment-loan guidance instead.
Installment Loans in North Carolina
Preferred routing for the full current PLS Cash Advance selector. North Carolina Consumer Finance Act loans may extend up to $25,000; $5,000 is the site offer boundary, not the statutory maximum.
Amount and term limits
A North Carolina Consumer Finance Act licensee may make covered installment loans with loan amounts not exceeding $25,000. PLS Cash Advance currently routes only the $200–$5,000 portion of its selector to this guide.
Covered loans under G.S. 53-176 may not be repayable in fewer than 12 months or more than 96 months. The first monthly payment generally may not be due more than 45 days after funds are disbursed.
Interest, fees and repayment
For an original loan amount up to $12,000, the maximum simple-interest rates are 33% on the first $4,000 of unpaid principal, 24% on the portion from $4,000 through $8,000, and 18% on the remainder. For an original amount above $12,000, the statute provides an 18% rate on the outstanding principal balance.
For loans up to $3,000, the processing fee may not exceed $30. Above $3,000 it may be up to 1% of the amount financed, capped at $150; the fee may not be assessed more than twice in a 12-month period.
The loan must be repayable in substantially equal consecutive monthly payments.
| Principal band | Maximum annual interest rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$4,000 | 33% |
| $4,000–$8,000 | 24% |
| $8,000–$12,000 | 18% |
Rollovers, refinancing and early payment
- Rollover allowed?
- Not reduced to a yes/no rule
The Consumer Finance Act uses installment-loan renewal and refinancing rules rather than a payday-style rollover model; this page does not reduce them to a single rollover flag. - Prepayment penalty allowed?
- No
G.S. 53-176 permits the borrower to prepay all or any part of the loan without penalty. It also provides a limited three-business-day cancellation right with the same licensee when the required funds are returned, subject to statutory frequency limits.
North Carolina borrower protections
- Consumer Finance Act loans covered by G.S. 53-176 may not exceed $25,000.
- Covered loans run from 12 through 96 months and use substantially equal consecutive monthly payments.
- The statute limits both interest and processing fees.
- Borrowers may prepay all or part of a covered loan without penalty.
- NCCOB publishes a searchable list of Consumer Finance Act licensees.
North Carolina loan cost calculator
How to verify a lender in North Carolina
Regulator: North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB).
North Carolina Consumer Finance Act license
Official sources
- North Carolina G.S. 53-176 — Rates, maturities, and amounts · primary
- North Carolina G.S. 53-180 — Limitations and prohibitions · primary
- NCCOB — Consumer Finance Act Licensees · primary
Last regulatory verification: 2026-09-06. Laws can change; verify current terms and lender status before borrowing. Read our research methodology.