North Carolina SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in North Carolina
Since FY2020, 249 lenders have funded 8,300 SBA loans worth $6.2B for businesses in North Carolina. Borrowers reported 100,633 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which North Carolina businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in North Carolina
Ranked by loans funded for North Carolina projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in North Carolina beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
504 loans are written by Certified Development Companies alongside a bank first mortgage. The 504 file reports no interest rate, so CDC rows show none.
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Start your funding profile →How big North Carolina SBA loans run
Share of North Carolina 7(a) loans by approval size, next to the national split. If your ask sits in a common band, it is the kind of loan lenders here fund every week.
| 7(a) loan size | NC | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 26.9% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 34.3% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 17.2% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 21.6% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in North Carolina
Business age on North Carolina 7(a) loans. 15.6% funded a change of ownership, against 11.1% nationally. Buying a business? See the acquisition lender shortlist. Starting one? See startup-friendly lenders.
| Business stage | NC | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 42.1% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 18.7% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 23.6% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 15.6% | 11.1% |
Industries North Carolina SBA lenders fund most
Share of all North Carolina SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | NC loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 1,348 | 16.2% | 1.3x the national share |
| Retail | 958 | 11.5% | in line with national |
| Construction | 925 | 11.1% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 833 | 10% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 777 | 9.4% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 738 | 8.9% | in line with national |
| Manufacturing | 580 | 7% | in line with national |
| Business support services | 487 | 5.9% | in line with national |
The most common specific business types funded in North Carolina: full-service restaurants (393), limited-service restaurants (309), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (302), fitness and recreational sports centers (231), residential remodelers (162), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (142).
Where in North Carolina the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg | 1,423 | 17% |
| Wake | 1,294 | 16% |
| Guilford | 402 | 5% |
| New Hanover | 358 | 4% |
| Buncombe | 325 | 4% |
| Durham | 281 | 3% |
| Union | 273 | 3% |
| Forsyth | 249 | 3% |
7(a) or 504 in North Carolina
7% of North Carolina SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $751K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in North Carolina:
- Business Expansion Funding Corporation: 364 504 loans, median $689K
- Carolina Business Capital, Inc.: 83 504 loans, median $794K
- 504 Capital Corporation: 75 504 loans, median $986K
North Carolina SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 845 | 73 | $735M |
| FY2021 | 962 | 92 | $990M |
| FY2022 | 875 | 102 | $773M |
| FY2023 | 1,199 | 69 | $880M |
| FY2024 | 1,419 | 74 | $988M |
| FY2025 | 1,561 | 82 | $1.2B |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 891 | 56 | $677M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in North Carolina?
By funded loans since FY2020, Live Oak Banking Company leads North Carolina with 624 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in North Carolina?
The median 7(a) loan in North Carolina is $349K, and the middle half runs from $125K to $843K. The median 504 loan is $751K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do North Carolina SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on North Carolina 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9.49%, against 9.25% nationally. 87% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in North Carolina?
Yes. 42% of North Carolina 7(a) loans with a reported business age went to startups or businesses two years old or younger, against 34% nationally. Lenders still expect a solid plan, owner equity and usually collateral.
Sources and limits. Derived from U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level records, FY2020 through June 30, 2026, for projects located in North Carolina. Cancelled approvals are excluded. Jobs supported are as reported by borrowers. Figures describe past lending activity only and are not offers, quotes, or qualification decisions. Big Brain Funding is not a lender and is not affiliated with any lender listed.