County9th of 16 in Maine by approvalsFIPS 23013
SBA loans in Knox County, Maine
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 Knox County, Maine, received 70 SBA loan approvals worth $24.4M in FY2021 to FY2025 (60 7(a), 10 504).
That is 38.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,823 establishments in 2023), below the Maine figure of 46.0 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 9th of 16 Maine counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 17, up 31% on FY2024.
22 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Bangor Savings Bank (14), TD Bank, National Association (14) and Granite State Economic Development Corporation (9). 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 Knox County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 22 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor Savings BankBangor, ME | 14 | $2.0M | 20.0% | |
| 2 | TD Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 14 | $1.7M | 20.0% | |
| 3 | Granite State Economic Development CorporationPortsmouth, NH · CDC | 9 | $4.2M | 12.9% | |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 4 | $2.8M | 5.7% | |
| 5 | Maine Community BankPortland, ME | 4 | $423K | 5.7% | |
| 6 | Northwest BankWarren, PA | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 7 | Customers BankMalvern, PA | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 9 | Webster Bank National AssociationWaterbury, CT | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 10 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 11 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 12 | Machias Savings BankMachias, ME | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 13 | KeyBank National AssociationCleveland, OH | 2 | — | 2.9% | |
| 14 | Stone BankMountain View, AR | 1 | — | 1.4% | |
| 15 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 1 | — | 1.4% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 10.0% | |
| 2 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 5 | 7.1% | |
| 3 | Grocery StoresNAICS 4451 | 4 | 5.7% | |
| 4 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 4 | 5.7% | |
| 5 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 4 | 5.7% | |
| 6 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 3 | 4.3% | |
| 7 | Support Activities for Water TransportationNAICS 4883 | 3 | 4.3% | |
| 8 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 3 | 4.3% | |
| 9 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 3 | 4.3% | |
| 10 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 3 | 4.3% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 13 | 18.6% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 11 | 15.7% | |
| 3 | Construction | 11 | 15.7% | |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 11.4% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 7 | 10.0% | |
| 6 | Transportation and Warehousing | 5 | 7.1% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3 | 4.3% | |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 4.3% |
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 | $6.4M | $170K | 2 | — | 8 | 40 |
| FY2025 | 17 | $4.5M | $105K | 0 | — | 17 | 86 |
| FY2024 | 13 | $3.5M | $80K | 0 | — | 13 | 90 |
| FY2023 | 19 | $5.3M | $150K | 1 | — | 20 | 192 |
| FY2022 | 6 | $1.1M | $88K | 3 | $2.7M | 9 | 65 |
| FY2021 | 5 | $5.6M | $760K | 6 | $1.5M | 11 | 56 |
| FY2020 | 5 | $1.6M | $45K | 1 | — | 6 | 68 |
| FY2019 | 7 | $1.1M | $50K | 1 | — | 8 | 80 |
| FY2018 | 11 | $762K | $30K | 3 | $2.4M | 14 | 55 |
| FY2017 | 9 | $1.6M | $148K | 0 | — | 9 | 103 |
| FY2016 | 11 | $3.0M | $50K | 1 | — | 12 | 64 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 49 approvals.
Against Maine and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Knox County | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 70 | 1,996 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 38.4 | 46.0 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $132K | $100K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $182K | $385K | $657K |
| Average approval | $349K | $327K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 14.3% | 17.1% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 7.0 | 8.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 3.5% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less28.6%20
- $50,001 to $150,00025.7%18
- $150,001 to $350,00025.7%18
- $350,001 to $1 million12.9%9
- $1 million to $2 million1.4%1
- Over $2 million5.7%4
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old57.1%40
- New business, 2 years or less12.9%9
- Startup, loan funds will open the business21.4%15
- Change of ownership8.6%6
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Knox County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Bangor Savings Bank (14), TD Bank, National Association (14), Granite State Economic Development Corporation (9), Newtek Bank, National Association (4), Maine Community Bank (4). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Knox County?
The median 7(a) approval was $132K and the median 504 approval $182K; the Maine 7(a) median was $100K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Knox County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Other Specialty Trade Contractors (5); Grocery Stores (4); Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (4); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (4).
Is SBA lending in Knox County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 50, against 26 in the three before: rising (+92%).
How does Knox County compare with the rest of Maine?
38.4 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 46.0 statewide, and 70 of the state's 1,996 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