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Compare your loan options in North Carolina

Laws may cap interest at 36%, but there are state-funded options for when you're in need of help.

When you have unplanned expenses and are on a tight budget, a payday loan could be helpful. Payday loans, a type of short-term loan, give you quick access to money when you need it. Read on to find out about the laws in North Carolina and everything else you should know about how payday advances work.

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Name Product Filter Values Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
Smart Advances
Not rated yet
Smart Advances
$100 to $20,000
As soon as one business day after loan closing
Have a regular income, 18+ years old, be a U.S. citizen with a valid SSN, have an open bank account, meet any additional requirements your lender may have
Smart Advances was designed to help you request the loan you need, for any reason.
EarnIn
Not rated yet
EarnIn
Get up to $100 per day or $750 per pay period.
1 to 2 business days, or in minutes with Lightning Speed.
Direct deposit sent to a checking account, a regular pay schedule, a fixed work location or an online timekeeping system at work
No mandatory fees, no interest, and no credit checks. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions
Cleo
Not rated yet
Cleo
Up to $250
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee.
Not stated
Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.
Albert
Not rated yet
Albert
Up to $250
2–3 business days or instant for a fee
Checking account 2+ months old receiving direct deposit, 2+ months working for the same employer, positive account balance, most recent paycheck was on-time, funds still available in bank account 24 hours after most recent payday.
Get up to $250 overdraft protection if you sign up for Albert's banking app.
Brigit
Not rated yet
Brigit
Up to $250
1 to 3 business days or instant with a fee of $0.99 to $3.99, or a $9.99/mo. subscription with small fee, or free with $14.99/mo. subscription.
Bank account must have at least 60 days of activity, Balance must be above $0 and have an average minimum balance on pay day
Have up to $250 automatically deposited into your account — for a $9.99 membership fee.
LendYou Short-term Loans
Finder Rating: 2.5 / 5: ★★★★★
LendYou Short-term Loans
Up to $1,000 for payday loans and up to $5,000 for installment loans
1 business day
$1,000+ monthly income, direct deposit, US citizen or permanent resident, ages 18+
Get offers from potential lenders in minutes by filling out just one online form.
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Fast5kLoans Short-term Loans Connection Service
$100 to $35,000
As soon as the next business day
Regular source of income, Verifiable bank account, US citizen, Ages 18+
Get connected with multiple lenders you might qualify with — even if you have bad credit.
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North Carolina doesn’t allow payday loans and some other forms of short-term lending. However, there are a few programs you should know of before you stop your search.

No, payday loans are illegal in North Carolina.
North Carolina General Statutes 53-281 and the North Carolina Consumer Finance Act N.C. Gen. Stat. 53-173 prohibit payday lending since 2001, and more recent amendments make it nearly impossible for payday lenders to squeeze in through loopholes.
All lenders in North Carolina are required to comply with the small loan interest cap of 36% APR.

What other short-term options are available in North Carolina?

North Carolina has a number of programs that can help you make your everyday bills and expenses more affordable. Here are a few that may be able to offer assistance:

  • Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)
  • Emergency Assistance Program
  • Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)
  • Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
  • Work First Cash Assistance
  • Medication Assistance Program (MAP)
  • Medicaid and NC MedAssist
You can find out more about these programs in our guide to payday loan alternatives.

What are the typical costs of a loan in North Carolina?

North Carolina law bans small-dollar lenders from offering loans with an APR higher than 36%. However, this doesn’t limit the fees you can be charged, so you’ll need to go over your loan contract carefully before you sign to be sure you can afford the total cost — principal and interest — of your loan.

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8 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    Ms.AdamsMarch 6, 2019

    I have been getting threatening calls about a loan from check in go about taking me to court. They are also saying the loan was more then the balance i believe i owned. I also learned that loans are illegal in my state as to the loan i received. The live in NC but got a loan from SC or VA not sure but they not giving me much info on the loan. What do i need to do and how can i resolve the matter.

      AvatarFinder
      johnbasanesMarch 7, 2019Finder

      Hi Ms. Adams,

      Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

      The first step is to get as much documentation on the loan that this loan company is saying you applied for. Once you have these, reach out to your local police department for them to be aware of this and protect your interest as much as possible. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

    Default Gravatar
    zachSeptember 5, 2018

    if i need a loan of 2800$ and my back olny does auto loans for 5000$ and up can i get the loan use the money and return the rest?

      AvatarFinder
      JoshuaSeptember 5, 2018Finder

      Hi Zach,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

      Generally, the interest rate is charged to the total amount you borrowed and not the money you only used. For this reason, you can use the excess of your borrowed money to pay off your balance. However, you will still need to pay the interest that you incurred from the total amount of money you borrowed.

      Just in case, you might also want to check our car loans for used cars and car loans for new cars.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

    Default Gravatar
    ShellyAugust 9, 2018

    I got a bigpicture loan. I’m reading all the bad stuff about the company now. What happens if I don’t pay them back? I didn’t know it was illegal

      Default Gravatar
      joelmarceloAugust 9, 2018

      Hi Shelly,

      Thanks for leaving a question on Finder.

      As the lender tries to collect your debt, they continue to try withdrawing from your bank account, using the information you provided. If the money isn’t there, they continue trying, sometime breaking up the loan into smaller parts. This won’t only get you into trouble with the lender, but your bank may also charge you overdraft fees every time your balance is insufficient when the lender attempts to withdraw money.

      And this is when the phone calls start. Lenders and collection representatives will use all of the information you provided — phone numbers at your job, email addresses, and even family members or friends — to contact you for payments.

      For more information about this matter, check our guide called “What could happen if you don’t pay back your payday loan”.

      Cheers,
      Joel

    Default Gravatar
    TammyJune 21, 2017

    How do I apply for a loan?

      AvatarFinder
      JasonJune 21, 2017Finder

      Hi Tammy,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Please compare your loan options above and click the name of your preferred lender to find out the details and the minimum eligibility of the lender. You may then click the green “Go to Site” button of your preferred lender or loan option to submit your loan application online.

      Please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and requirements of the loan option or lender and make sure to read the details, as well as the relevant PDS/ T&Cs of the loan option before making a decision and consider whether the product or option is right for you.

      Kind regards,
      Jason

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