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County25th of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37037
SBA loans in Chatham 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.
SBA approved 60 loans to businesses in Chatham County, North Carolina, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $53.0M: 53 under 7(a) and 7 under 504.
That is 34.9 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,719 establishments in 2023), above the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 25th of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 13, down 28% on FY2024.
30 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Live Oak Banking Company (6), Business Expansion Funding Corporation (5) and Celtic Bank Corporation (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 Chatham County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 30 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 6 | $7.8M | 10.0% | |
| 2 | Business Expansion Funding CorporationCharlotte, NC · CDC | 5 | $4.1M | 8.3% | |
| 3 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 4 | $2.2M | 6.7% | |
| 4 | Bank of America, National AssociationCharlotte, NC | 4 | $987K | 6.7% | |
| 5 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 4 | $891K | 6.7% | |
| 6 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 3 | $840K | 5.0% | |
| 7 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 3 | $340K | 5.0% | |
| 8 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 3 | $320K | 5.0% | |
| 9 | First National Bank of PennsylvaniaGreenville, PA | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 10 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust CompanyRaleigh, NC | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 11 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 12 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 13 | Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc.Tallahassee, FL · CDC | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 14 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 15 | Beacon Bank and TrustBrookline, MA | 1 | — | 1.7% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 5 | 8.3% | |
| 2 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 5 | 8.3% | |
| 3 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 3 | 5.0% | |
| 4 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 3 | 5.0% | |
| 5 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 5.0% | |
| 6 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 3 | 5.0% | |
| 7 | Remediation and Other Waste Management ServicesNAICS 5629 | 3 | 5.0% | |
| 8 | Architectural and Structural Metals ManufacturingNAICS 3323 | 2 | 3.3% | |
| 9 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 3.3% | |
| 10 | Beverage ManufacturingNAICS 3121 | 2 | 3.3% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | 12 | 20.0% | |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 8 | 13.3% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 8 | 13.3% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 8.3% | |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 8.3% | |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 6.7% | |
| 7 | Retail Trade | 4 | 6.7% | |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4 | 6.7% |
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* | 10 | $6.9M | $350K | 0 | — | 10 | 81 |
| FY2025 | 13 | $7.0M | $170K | 0 | — | 13 | 85 |
| FY2024 | 17 | $22.8M | $428K | 1 | — | 18 | 231 |
| FY2023 | 13 | $9.5M | $315K | 1 | — | 14 | 197 |
| FY2022 | 3 | $5.3M | $1.6M | 4 | $1.7M | 7 | 111 |
| FY2021 | 7 | $3.4M | $357K | 1 | — | 8 | 37 |
| FY2020 | 8 | $5.2M | $470K | 2 | — | 10 | 83 |
| FY2019 | 8 | $2.4M | $150K | 2 | — | 10 | 36 |
| FY2018 | 11 | $6.6M | $329K | 0 | — | 11 | 122 |
| FY2017 | 9 | $7.0M | $440K | 0 | — | 9 | 178 |
| FY2016 | 3 | $641K | $5,000 | 1 | — | 4 | 7 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 44 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Chatham County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 60 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 34.9 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $350K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $490K | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $883K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 11.7% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 11.0 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.8% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less6.7%4
- $50,001 to $150,00020.0%12
- $150,001 to $350,00021.7%13
- $350,001 to $1 million25.0%15
- $1 million to $2 million15.0%9
- Over $2 million11.7%7
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old48.3%29
- New business, 2 years or less13.3%8
- Startup, loan funds will open the business28.3%17
- Change of ownership10.0%6
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Chatham County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Live Oak Banking Company (6), Business Expansion Funding Corporation (5), Celtic Bank Corporation (4), Bank of America, National Association (4), The Huntington National Bank (4). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Chatham County?
The median 7(a) approval was $350K and the median 504 approval $490K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Chatham County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (5); Other Specialty Trade Contractors (5); Other Personal Services (3); Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3); Building Equipment Contractors (3).
Is SBA lending in Chatham County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 45, against 25 in the three before: rising (+80%).
How does Chatham County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
34.9 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 28.5 statewide, and 60 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