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County2nd of 3 in Delaware by approvalsFIPS 10005
SBA loans in Sussex County, Delaware
7(a) and 504 approvals to businesses located in the county, set against the number of businesses there and against the state.
SBA approvals by fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs 1 October to 30 September, so FY2025 is 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. *FY2026 is open: approvals to 30 Jun 2026 only.
Businesses in Sussex County, Delaware, received 255 SBA loan approvals worth $80.4M in FY2021 to FY2025 (248 7(a), 7 504).
That is 39.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (6,411 establishments in 2023), close to the Delaware figure of 34.7 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 2nd of 3 Delaware counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 76, up 46% on FY2024.
39 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (127), Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB (14) and PNC Bank, National Association (11). The most common industry was restaurants and other eating places.
Loan status is as recorded by SBA at the data date; charge-off rates are computed on loans approved at least five fiscal years ago. Jobs supported are self-reported estimates from the SBA loan application, which SBA does not review, audit or validate. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Lenders most active in Sussex County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 39 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust CompanyBuffalo, NY | 127 | $9.6M | 49.8% | |
| 2 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSBWilmington, DE | 14 | $9.6M | 5.5% | |
| 3 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 11 | $1.9M | 4.3% | |
| 4 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 10 | $1.9M | 3.9% | |
| 5 | Grow America Fund, IncorporatedNew York, NY | 9 | $6.0M | 3.5% | |
| 6 | Meridian BankMalvern, PA | 8 | $8.6M | 3.1% | |
| 7 | TD Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 8 | $1.8M | 3.1% | |
| 8 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 7 | $2.6M | 2.7% | |
| 9 | Fulton Bank, National AssociationLancaster, PA | 6 | $3.9M | 2.4% | |
| 10 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 6 | $1.1M | 2.4% | |
| 11 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 4 | $5.0M | 1.6% | |
| 12 | Delaware Community Development CorporationWilmington, DE · CDC | 3 | $2.7M | 1.2% | |
| 13 | First Financial BankEl Dorado, AR | 3 | $2.4M | 1.2% | |
| 14 | True Access Capital CorporationWilmington, DE · CDC | 3 | $2.2M | 1.2% | |
| 15 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 3 | $1.4M | 1.2% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 19 | 7.5% | |
| 2 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 16 | 6.3% | |
| 3 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 16 | 6.3% | |
| 4 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 15 | 5.9% | |
| 5 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 12 | 4.7% | |
| 6 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 9 | 3.5% | |
| 7 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 8 | 3.1% | |
| 8 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesNAICS 5416 | 8 | 3.1% | |
| 9 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 8 | 3.1% | |
| 10 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 8 | 3.1% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | 42 | 16.5% | |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 33 | 12.9% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 32 | 12.5% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 30 | 11.8% | |
| 5 | Accommodation and Food Services | 22 | 8.6% | |
| 6 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 22 | 8.6% | |
| 7 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 18 | 7.1% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 10 | 3.9% |
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) approvals | 7(a) dollars | Median 7(a) | 504 approvals | 504 dollars | All approvals | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 43 | $13.7M | $60K | 1 | — | 44 | 290 |
| FY2025 | 73 | $23.9M | $70K | 3 | $2.5M | 76 | 475 |
| FY2024 | 52 | $12.9M | $60K | 0 | — | 52 | 265 |
| FY2023 | 36 | $12.4M | $100K | 0 | — | 36 | 281 |
| FY2022 | 42 | $13.5M | $100K | 3 | $2.2M | 45 | 296 |
| FY2021 | 45 | $12.2M | $99K | 1 | — | 46 | 482 |
| FY2020 | 40 | $15.6M | $88K | 0 | — | 40 | 348 |
| FY2019 | 43 | $15.0M | $70K | 2 | — | 45 | 378 |
| FY2018 | 43 | $7.5M | $50K | 2 | — | 45 | 515 |
| FY2017 | 47 | $15.0M | $150K | 1 | — | 48 | 306 |
| FY2016 | 50 | $25.7M | $70K | 0 | — | 50 | 228 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 228 approvals.
Against Delaware and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Sussex County | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 255 | 1,031 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 39.8 | 34.7 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $83K | $100K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $790K | $861K | $657K |
| Average approval | $315K | $381K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 2.7% | 2.6% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 7.1 | 8.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 24.7% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less41.2%105
- $50,001 to $150,00023.5%60
- $150,001 to $350,00011.8%30
- $350,001 to $1 million16.1%41
- $1 million to $2 million5.5%14
- Over $2 million2.0%5
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old61.2%156
- New business, 2 years or less18.0%46
- Startup, loan funds will open the business15.3%39
- Change of ownership5.5%14
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Sussex County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (127), Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB (14), PNC Bank, National Association (11), Northeast Bank (10), Grow America Fund, Incorporated (9). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Sussex County?
The median 7(a) approval was $83K and the median 504 approval $790K; the Delaware 7(a) median was $100K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Sussex County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (19); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (16); Services to Buildings and Dwellings (16); Residential Building Construction (15); Building Equipment Contractors (12).
Is SBA lending in Sussex County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 164, against 131 in the three before: rising (+25%).
How does Sussex County compare with the rest of Delaware?
39.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 34.7 statewide, and 255 of the state's 1,031 approvals.
About these figures
Figures are totals of the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, data through 30 Jun 2026. SBA updates the files quarterly. Counts are loan approvals, including approvals later cancelled; the five-year window is FY2021–FY2025, the five latest complete fiscal years. Charge-off rates use only loans approved in FY2010–FY2021, at least five fiscal years ago, and count disbursed loans SBA records as charged off. Loans are listed under the lender they are assigned to today. Establishment counts are from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns 2023, which leaves out most farms, government and businesses without employees. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error