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County19th of 149 in Georgia by approvalsFIPS 13059
SBA loans in Clarke County, Georgia
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 Clarke County, Georgia, received 106 SBA loan approvals worth $72.8M in FY2021 to FY2025 (88 7(a), 18 504).
That is 32.1 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (3,307 establishments in 2023), below the Georgia figure of 39.2 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 19th of 149 Georgia counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 25, up 19% on FY2024.
48 lenders had approvals here; the most active were The Huntington National Bank (7), Vallant Bank (6) and Small Business Access Partners, Inc. (6). 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 Clarke County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 48 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 7 | $2.3M | 6.6% | |
| 2 | Vallant BankElberton, GA | 6 | $6.5M | 5.7% | |
| 3 | Small Business Access Partners, Inc.Gainesville, GA · CDC | 6 | $2.8M | 5.7% | |
| 4 | CSRA Local Development CorporationAugusta, GA · CDC | 5 | $4.9M | 4.7% | |
| 5 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 5 | $2.4M | 4.7% | |
| 6 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 5 | $1.7M | 4.7% | |
| 7 | Florida Business Development CorporationTampa, FL · CDC | 4 | $5.5M | 3.8% | |
| 8 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 4 | $5.0M | 3.8% | |
| 9 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 4 | $2.2M | 3.8% | |
| 10 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 4 | $625K | 3.8% | |
| 11 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 3 | $1.5M | 2.8% | |
| 12 | Oconee State BankWatkinsville, GA | 3 | $611K | 2.8% | |
| 13 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 3 | $450K | 2.8% | |
| 14 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 3 | $320K | 2.8% | |
| 15 | First National Community BankChatsworth, GA | 2 | — | 1.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 23 | 21.7% | |
| 2 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 5 | 4.7% | |
| 3 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 4 | 3.8% | |
| 4 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4471 | 4 | 3.8% | |
| 5 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 3 | 2.8% | |
| 6 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 3 | 2.8% | |
| 7 | Building Finishing ContractorsNAICS 2383 | 3 | 2.8% | |
| 8 | Beverage ManufacturingNAICS 3121 | 3 | 2.8% | |
| 9 | Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)NAICS 7224 | 3 | 2.8% | |
| 10 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 3 | 2.8% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 26 | 24.5% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 15 | 14.2% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 11 | 10.4% | |
| 4 | Construction | 9 | 8.5% | |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 7.5% | |
| 6 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 6 | 5.7% | |
| 7 | Manufacturing | 5 | 4.7% | |
| 8 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5 | 4.7% |
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* | 8 | $4.2M | $88K | 1 | — | 9 | 76 |
| FY2025 | 24 | $12.2M | $300K | 1 | — | 25 | 325 |
| FY2024 | 18 | $9.6M | $355K | 3 | $5.4M | 21 | 256 |
| FY2023 | 12 | $6.6M | $366K | 5 | $2.2M | 17 | 116 |
| FY2022 | 18 | $13.0M | $476K | 1 | — | 19 | 527 |
| FY2021 | 16 | $15.1M | $345K | 8 | $7.7M | 24 | 322 |
| FY2020 | 10 | $6.9M | $248K | 2 | — | 12 | 177 |
| FY2019 | 19 | $17.1M | $453K | 2 | — | 21 | 290 |
| FY2018 | 14 | $3.8M | $172K | 1 | — | 15 | 160 |
| FY2017 | 9 | $5.6M | $523K | 0 | — | 9 | 69 |
| FY2016 | 13 | $14.1M | $660K | 2 | — | 15 | 268 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 72 approvals.
Against Georgia and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Clarke County | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 106 | 10,246 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 32.1 | 39.2 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $355K | $350K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $660K | $820K | $657K |
| Average approval | $686K | $803K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 17.0% | 10.1% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 14.6 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.0% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less10.4%11
- $50,001 to $150,00015.1%16
- $150,001 to $350,00020.8%22
- $350,001 to $1 million30.2%32
- $1 million to $2 million17.0%18
- Over $2 million6.6%7
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old45.3%48
- New business, 2 years or less13.2%14
- Startup, loan funds will open the business35.8%38
- Change of ownership5.7%6
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Clarke County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: The Huntington National Bank (7), Vallant Bank (6), Small Business Access Partners, Inc. (6), CSRA Local Development Corporation (5), United Community Bank (5). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Clarke County?
The median 7(a) approval was $355K and the median 504 approval $660K; the Georgia 7(a) median was $350K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Clarke County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (23); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (5); Lessors of Real Estate (4); Gasoline Stations (4); Other Personal Services (3).
Is SBA lending in Clarke County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 63, against 55 in the three before: rising (+15%).
How does Clarke County compare with the rest of Georgia?
32.1 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 39.2 statewide, and 106 of the state's 10,246 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