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County15th of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37035
SBA loans in Catawba County, North Carolina
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 Catawba County, North Carolina, received 103 SBA loan approvals worth $87.8M in FY2021 to FY2025 (94 7(a), 9 504).
That is 23.7 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (4,349 establishments in 2023), below the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 15th of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 25, down 14% on FY2024.
46 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Live Oak Banking Company (14), Readycap Lending, LLC (8) and Wells Fargo Bank National Association (7). The most common industry was automotive repair and maintenance.
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 Catawba County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 46 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 14 | $17.1M | 13.6% | |
| 2 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 8 | $4.3M | 7.8% | |
| 3 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 7 | $90K | 6.8% | |
| 4 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 5 | $7.7M | 4.9% | |
| 5 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 5 | $1.1M | 4.9% | |
| 6 | Carolina Business Capital, Inc.Charlotte, NC · CDC | 4 | $3.7M | 3.9% | |
| 7 | Business Expansion Funding CorporationCharlotte, NC · CDC | 4 | $3.5M | 3.9% | |
| 8 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 4 | $502K | 3.9% | |
| 9 | First National Bank of PennsylvaniaGreenville, PA | 3 | $1.9M | 2.9% | |
| 10 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 3 | $1.1M | 2.9% | |
| 11 | Fifth Third BankCincinnati, OH | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 12 | First Internet Bank of IndianaFishers, IN | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 13 | Banesco USAMiami, FL | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 14 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 2 | — | 1.9% | |
| 15 | Enterprise Bank & TrustClayton, MO | 2 | — | 1.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 7 | 6.8% | |
| 2 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 6 | 5.8% | |
| 3 | Other Miscellaneous ManufacturingNAICS 3399 | 4 | 3.9% | |
| 4 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 4 | 3.9% | |
| 5 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 4 | 3.9% | |
| 6 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 3 | 2.9% | |
| 7 | Apparel Knitting MillsNAICS 3151 | 3 | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 3 | 2.9% | |
| 9 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 2.9% | |
| 10 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 3 | 2.9% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | 17 | 16.5% | |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 15 | 14.6% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 14 | 13.6% | |
| 4 | Construction | 12 | 11.7% | |
| 5 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 9.7% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9 | 8.7% | |
| 7 | Accommodation and Food Services | 8 | 7.8% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 4 | 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* | 16 | $6.8M | $244K | 0 | — | 16 | 143 |
| FY2025 | 23 | $16.3M | $290K | 2 | — | 25 | 244 |
| FY2024 | 28 | $19.1M | $354K | 1 | — | 29 | 311 |
| FY2023 | 19 | $21.2M | $850K | 1 | — | 20 | 359 |
| FY2022 | 8 | $2.4M | $14K | 1 | — | 9 | 37 |
| FY2021 | 16 | $20.1M | $720K | 4 | $2.1M | 20 | 171 |
| FY2020 | 13 | $10.8M | $350K | 4 | $1.3M | 17 | 231 |
| FY2019 | 15 | $9.9M | $350K | 1 | — | 16 | 123 |
| FY2018 | 17 | $11.8M | $350K | 0 | — | 17 | 143 |
| FY2017 | 13 | $4.1M | $245K | 0 | — | 13 | 71 |
| FY2016 | 12 | $8.1M | $150K | 4 | $4.0M | 16 | 118 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 79 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Catawba County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 103 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 23.7 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $490K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $899K | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $852K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 8.7% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 10.9 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.4% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less12.6%13
- $50,001 to $150,00012.6%13
- $150,001 to $350,00015.5%16
- $350,001 to $1 million32.0%33
- $1 million to $2 million18.4%19
- Over $2 million8.7%9
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old45.6%47
- New business, 2 years or less15.5%16
- Startup, loan funds will open the business19.4%20
- Change of ownership19.4%20
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Catawba County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Live Oak Banking Company (14), Readycap Lending, LLC (8), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (7), Pinnacle Bank (5), The Huntington National Bank (5). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Catawba County?
The median 7(a) approval was $490K and the median 504 approval $899K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Catawba County?
Automotive Repair and Maintenance (7); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (6); Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing (4); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (4); Other Specialty Trade Contractors (4).
Is SBA lending in Catawba County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 74, against 46 in the three before: rising (+61%).
How does Catawba County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
23.7 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 28.5 statewide, and 103 of the state's 7,353 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