South Carolina SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in South Carolina
Since FY2020, 214 lenders have funded 4,106 SBA loans worth $2.8B for businesses in South Carolina. Borrowers reported 45,993 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which South Carolina businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in South Carolina
Ranked by loans funded for South Carolina projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in South Carolina beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | SC loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 586 | 164 | $40K | 10.5% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 280 | 117 | $255K | 9.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 7(a) | 259 | 33 | $15K | 10% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 195 | 54 | $657K | 8% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 7(a) | 161 | 35 | $590K | 8% |
| Countybank | 7(a) | 145 | 36 | $530K | 7% |
| SouthState Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 143 | 26 | $362K | 9.5% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 133 | 41 | $150K | 9% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 128 | 45 | $117K | 11.25% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 114 | 69 | $177K | 11.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 112 | 23 | $150K | 12.25% |
| Provident Business Financial Services, Inc. | 504 (CDC) | 106 | 18 | $953K | n/a |
| United Community Bank | 7(a) | 84 | 16 | $671K | 7.25% |
| First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 7(a) | 76 | 41 | $513K | 9.75% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 69 | 25 | $150K | 10.25% |
| Appalachian Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 66 | 28 | $751K | n/a |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 61 | 42 | $104K | 10.5% |
| GBank | 7(a) | 53 | 20 | $2.9M | 8.5% |
| Certified Development Corporation of South Carolina | 504 (CDC) | 53 | 12 | $774K | n/a |
| Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. | 7(a) | 49 | 0 | $200K | 6% |
| Bank of America, National Association | 7(a) | 49 | 11 | $333K | 6.19% |
| Citizens Bank | 7(a) | 48 | 10 | $536K | 9.12% |
| First Bank | 7(a) | 39 | 16 | $822K | 9.75% |
| TowneBank | 7(a) | 34 | 7 | $541K | 7.5% |
| Bank of Travelers Rest | 7(a) | 33 | 0 | $300K | 4.35% |
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 South Carolina SBA loans run
Share of South 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 | SC | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 32.1% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 32.3% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 17% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 18.6% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in South Carolina
Business age on South Carolina 7(a) loans. 14.4% 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 | SC | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 43.5% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 21.3% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 20.9% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 14.4% | 11.1% |
Industries South Carolina SBA lenders fund most
Share of all South Carolina SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | SC loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 683 | 16.6% | 1.3x the national share |
| Retail | 501 | 12.2% | in line with national |
| Construction | 479 | 11.7% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 407 | 9.9% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 384 | 9.4% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 305 | 7.4% | 0.8x the national share |
| Business support services | 279 | 6.8% | 1.2x the national share |
| Manufacturing | 229 | 5.6% | 0.8x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in South Carolina: full-service restaurants (213), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (170), limited-service restaurants (155), fitness and recreational sports centers (88), residential remodelers (84), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (72).
Where in South Carolina the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 685 | 17% |
| Charleston | 542 | 13% |
| Horry | 297 | 7% |
| Richland | 295 | 7% |
| York | 290 | 7% |
| Spartanburg | 261 | 6% |
| Lexington | 253 | 6% |
| Beaufort | 246 | 6% |
7(a) or 504 in South Carolina
7% of South Carolina SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $842K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in South Carolina:
- Provident Business Financial Services, Inc.: 106 504 loans, median $953K
- Appalachian Development Corporation: 66 504 loans, median $751K
- Certified Development Corporation of South Carolina: 52 504 loans, median $789K
- CSRA Local Development Corporation: 17 504 loans, median $1.0M
- Catawba Regional Development Corporation: 15 504 loans, median $849K
South Carolina SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 366 | 34 | $289M |
| FY2021 | 487 | 57 | $535M |
| FY2022 | 502 | 47 | $374M |
| FY2023 | 601 | 23 | $364M |
| FY2024 | 716 | 36 | $449M |
| FY2025 | 767 | 41 | $539M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 395 | 34 | $295M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in South Carolina?
By funded loans since FY2020, TD Bank, National Association leads South Carolina with 586 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in South Carolina?
The median 7(a) loan in South Carolina is $294K, and the middle half runs from $100K to $732K. The median 504 loan is $842K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do South Carolina SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on South Carolina 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9.5%, against 9.25% nationally. 91% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in South Carolina?
Yes. 42% of South 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 South 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.