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County27th of 149 in Georgia by approvalsFIPS 13227
SBA loans in Pickens 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.
SBA approved 67 loans to businesses in Pickens County, Georgia, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $64.0M: 63 under 7(a) and 4 under 504.
That is 82.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (809 establishments in 2023), above the Georgia figure of 39.2 and above the national 41.0.
It ranks 27th of 149 Georgia counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 13, up 30% on FY2024.
27 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Community Bank of Pickens County (13), Newtek Bank, National Association (6) and HomeTrust Bank (4). 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 Pickens County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 27 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community Bank of Pickens CountyJasper, GA | 13 | $10.4M | 19.4% | |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 6 | $2.6M | 9.0% | |
| 3 | HomeTrust BankAsheville, NC | 4 | $4.0M | 6.0% | |
| 4 | River City BankRome, GA | 4 | $1.4M | 6.0% | |
| 5 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 3 | $6.1M | 4.5% | |
| 6 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 3 | $3.9M | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Capital Partners Certified Development CompanyAtlanta, GA · CDC | 3 | $3.0M | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 3 | $2.7M | 4.5% | |
| 9 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 3 | $2.3M | 4.5% | |
| 10 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 3 | $1.2M | 4.5% | |
| 11 | United BankFairfax, VA | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 12 | Metro City BankDoraville, GA | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 13 | iTHINK Financial Credit UnionDelray Beach, FL | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 14 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 15 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 2 | — | 3.0% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 6 | 9.0% | |
| 2 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4471 | 4 | 6.0% | |
| 3 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 4 | Poultry and Egg ProductionNAICS 1123 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 6 | Building Finishing ContractorsNAICS 2383 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the ElderlyNAICS 6233 | 2 | 3.0% | |
| 10 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 2 | 3.0% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | 12 | 17.9% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 11 | 16.4% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 10 | 14.9% | |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 9.0% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 6 | 9.0% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 7.5% | |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 4 | 6.0% | |
| 8 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3 | 4.5% |
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* | 6 | $4.8M | $200K | 0 | — | 6 | 42 |
| FY2025 | 12 | $11.3M | $459K | 1 | — | 13 | 76 |
| FY2024 | 10 | $3.5M | $283K | 0 | — | 10 | 52 |
| FY2023 | 14 | $10.7M | $375K | 1 | — | 15 | 75 |
| FY2022 | 9 | $7.8M | $527K | 1 | — | 10 | 137 |
| FY2021 | 18 | $27.5M | $868K | 1 | — | 19 | 283 |
| FY2020 | 8 | $2.2M | $115K | 0 | — | 8 | 106 |
| FY2019 | 8 | $2.9M | $301K | 0 | — | 8 | 93 |
| FY2018 | 7 | $4.1M | $194K | 0 | — | 7 | 31 |
| FY2017 | 11 | $12.4M | $465K | 0 | — | 11 | 121 |
| FY2016 | 13 | $14.0M | $446K | 4 | $1.6M | 17 | 58 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 51 approvals.
Against Georgia and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Pickens County | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 67 | 10,246 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 82.8 | 39.2 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $522K | $350K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $588K | $820K | $657K |
| Average approval | $955K | $803K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 6.0% | 10.1% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 9.3 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.7% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less9.0%6
- $50,001 to $150,00017.9%12
- $150,001 to $350,00011.9%8
- $350,001 to $1 million32.8%22
- $1 million to $2 million10.4%7
- Over $2 million17.9%12
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old49.3%33
- New business, 2 years or less19.4%13
- Startup, loan funds will open the business20.9%14
- Change of ownership10.4%7
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Pickens County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Community Bank of Pickens County (13), Newtek Bank, National Association (6), HomeTrust Bank (4), River City Bank (4), Live Oak Banking Company (3). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Pickens County?
The median 7(a) approval was $522K and the median 504 approval $588K; the Georgia 7(a) median was $350K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Pickens County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (6); Gasoline Stations (4); Traveler Accommodation (3); Poultry and Egg Production (3); Other Personal Services (3).
Is SBA lending in Pickens County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 38, against 37 in the three before: broadly level (+3%).
How does Pickens County compare with the rest of Georgia?
82.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 39.2 statewide, and 67 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