<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001244172</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001093672</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-27205</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>518 WEST C STREET</com:street1>
        <com:street2>PO BOX 467</com:street2>
        <com:city>NEWTON</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>28658-4007</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8284645620</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>ABERNETHY JAMES S</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Wells Fargo Clearing Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 North Jefferson Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>600</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>23339.93</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>5461490</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>04/24/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/30/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Inheritance</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Christine Abernethy</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>600</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/30/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Adrian A Abernethy</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>518 West C Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Newton</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28658</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Peoples Bancorp of NC, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>04/23/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>600</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>23669.35</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>James S Abernethy</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>518 West C Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Newton</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28658</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Peoples Bancorp of NC, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/03/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>477</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>17671.65</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>James S Abernethy</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>518 West C Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Newton</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28658</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Peoples Bancorp of NC, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/27/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>523</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>20044.38</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>James S Abernethy</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>518 West C Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Newton</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28658</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Peoples Bancorp of NC, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/24/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>600</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>22550.05</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>James S Abernethy</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>518 West C Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Newton</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28658</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Peoples Bancorp of NC, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/09/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>37758.53</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Adrian A Abernethy</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>518 West C Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Newton</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28658</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Peoples Bancorp of NC, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/04/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>600</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>22023.36</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>04/24/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>James S Abernethy</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>