<?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>Member of immediate family of any of the foregoing</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Wells Fargo Clearing Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 N. Jefferson Ave.</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>2000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>53583.50</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>5542299</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>12/04/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common- Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/30/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Inherited</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Christine Abernethy</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/30/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>Shares were sold by Adrian Abernethy who is a member of the immediate family of James Abernethy/director of the issuer.</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>12/04/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Adrian Abernethy</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
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144
0001244172
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001093672
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INC
000-27205
518 WEST C STREET
PO BOX 467
NEWTON
NC
28658-4007
8284645620
ABERNETHY JAMES S
Member of immediate family of any of the foregoing
Common
Wells Fargo Clearing Services
1 N. Jefferson Ave.
St. Louis
MO
63103
2000
53583.50
5542299
12/04/2023
Nasdaq
Common- Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina
11/30/2020
Inherited
Christine Abernethy
N
2000
11/30/2020
N/A
Y
Shares were sold by Adrian Abernethy who is a member of the immediate family of James Abernethy/director of the issuer.
12/04/2023
Adrian Abernethy