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County18th of 149 in Georgia by approvalsFIPS 13073
SBA loans in Columbia 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 Columbia County, Georgia, received 107 SBA loan approvals worth $68.6M in FY2021 to FY2025 (87 7(a), 20 504).
That is 36.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,943 establishments in 2023), close to the Georgia figure of 39.2 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 18th of 149 Georgia counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 28, up 22% on FY2024.
36 lenders had approvals here; the most active were CSRA Local Development Corporation (19), The Huntington National Bank (11) and Wells Fargo 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 Columbia County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 36 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSRA Local Development CorporationAugusta, GA · CDC | 19 | $12.7M | 17.8% | |
| 2 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 11 | $7.3M | 10.3% | |
| 3 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 11 | $457K | 10.3% | |
| 4 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 9 | $696K | 8.4% | |
| 5 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 6 | $6.8M | 5.6% | |
| 6 | Queensborough National Bank and Trust CompanyLouisville, GA | 5 | $5.4M | 4.7% | |
| 7 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 4 | $3.2M | 3.7% | |
| 8 | Security Federal BankAiken, SC | 4 | $1.3M | 3.7% | |
| 9 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 3 | $5.0M | 2.8% | |
| 10 | Regions BankBirmingham, AL | 3 | $3.4M | 2.8% | |
| 11 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 3 | $361K | 2.8% | |
| 12 | TD Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 13 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust CompanyRaleigh, NC | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 14 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 15 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 2 | — | 1.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 16 | 15.0% | |
| 2 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 8 | 7.5% | |
| 3 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 7 | 6.5% | |
| 4 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 6 | 5.6% | |
| 5 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 6 | 5.6% | |
| 6 | Home Health Care ServicesNAICS 6216 | 5 | 4.7% | |
| 7 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 4 | 3.7% | |
| 8 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 4 | 3.7% | |
| 9 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related ServicesNAICS 5413 | 3 | 2.8% | |
| 10 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 3 | 2.8% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 20 | 18.7% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 18 | 16.8% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 17 | 15.9% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 9 | 8.4% | |
| 5 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 9 | 8.4% | |
| 6 | Transportation and Warehousing | 8 | 7.5% | |
| 7 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 7 | 6.5% | |
| 8 | Manufacturing | 3 | 2.8% |
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* | 21 | $9.7M | $342K | 2 | — | 23 | 371 |
| FY2025 | 26 | $15.9M | $246K | 2 | — | 28 | 474 |
| FY2024 | 21 | $8.9M | $120K | 2 | — | 23 | 151 |
| FY2023 | 13 | $6.2M | $244K | 4 | $3.0M | 17 | 287 |
| FY2022 | 8 | $6.2M | $458K | 6 | $4.1M | 14 | 190 |
| FY2021 | 19 | $16.5M | $413K | 6 | $3.3M | 25 | 246 |
| FY2020 | 9 | $7.5M | $490K | 5 | $2.9M | 14 | 189 |
| FY2019 | 18 | $3.4M | $168K | 3 | $1.3M | 21 | 171 |
| FY2018 | 12 | $6.6M | $274K | 3 | $2.6M | 15 | 191 |
| FY2017 | 17 | $6.3M | $188K | 3 | $1.1M | 20 | 138 |
| FY2016 | 16 | $9.3M | $265K | 1 | — | 17 | 368 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 87 approvals.
Against Georgia and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Columbia County | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 107 | 10,246 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 36.4 | 39.2 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $244K | $350K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $609K | $820K | $657K |
| Average approval | $641K | $803K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 18.7% | 10.1% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 12.6 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.0% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less16.8%18
- $50,001 to $150,00016.8%18
- $150,001 to $350,00017.8%19
- $350,001 to $1 million32.7%35
- $1 million to $2 million8.4%9
- Over $2 million7.5%8
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old42.1%45
- New business, 2 years or less23.4%25
- Startup, loan funds will open the business27.1%29
- Change of ownership6.5%7
- Not answered0.9%1
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Columbia County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: CSRA Local Development Corporation (19), The Huntington National Bank (11), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (11), Northeast Bank (9), Newtek Bank, National Association (6). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Columbia County?
The median 7(a) approval was $244K and the median 504 approval $609K; the Georgia 7(a) median was $350K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Columbia County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (16); Other Personal Services (8); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7); Personal Care Services (6); General Freight Trucking (6).
Is SBA lending in Columbia County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 68, against 53 in the three before: rising (+28%).
How does Columbia County compare with the rest of Georgia?
36.4 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 39.2 statewide, and 107 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