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County32nd of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37049
SBA loans in Craven 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 Craven County, North Carolina, received 49 SBA loan approvals worth $39.8M in FY2021 to FY2025 (47 7(a), 2 504).
That is 22.0 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,224 establishments in 2023), below the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 32nd of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 12, down 8% on FY2024.
22 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Live Oak Banking Company (6), The Huntington National Bank (5) and Wells Fargo Bank National Association (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 Craven County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 22 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 6 | $4.5M | 12.2% | |
| 2 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 5 | $897K | 10.2% | |
| 3 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 4 | $4.9M | 8.2% | |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 4 | $1.8M | 8.2% | |
| 5 | GBankLas Vegas, NV | 3 | $6.2M | 6.1% | |
| 6 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 3 | $629K | 6.1% | |
| 7 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 3 | $400K | 6.1% | |
| 8 | TowneBankPortsmouth, VA | 2 | — | 4.1% | |
| 9 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust CompanyRaleigh, NC | 2 | — | 4.1% | |
| 10 | Truist BankCharlotte, NC | 2 | — | 4.1% | |
| 11 | First BankSouthern Pines, NC | 2 | — | 4.1% | |
| 12 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 4.1% | |
| 13 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 2 | — | 4.1% | |
| 14 | Evolve Bank and TrustWest Memphis, AR | 1 | — | 2.0% | |
| 15 | Citizens BankElizabethton, TN | 1 | — | 2.0% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 14.3% | |
| 2 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 6 | 12.2% | |
| 3 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 4 | 8.2% | |
| 4 | Building Finishing ContractorsNAICS 2383 | 4 | 8.2% | |
| 5 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 3 | 6.1% | |
| 6 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 2 | 4.1% | |
| 7 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 2 | 4.1% | |
| 8 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 2 | 4.1% | |
| 9 | Individual and Family ServicesNAICS 6241 | 2 | 4.1% | |
| 10 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 1 | 2.0% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 12 | 24.5% | |
| 2 | Construction | 12 | 24.5% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 10.2% | |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 8.2% | |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 8.2% | |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 3 | 6.1% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3 | 6.1% | |
| 8 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2 | 4.1% |
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* | 8 | $4.0M | $313K | 1 | — | 9 | 174 |
| FY2025 | 12 | $4.5M | $235K | 0 | — | 12 | 305 |
| FY2024 | 13 | $13.9M | $497K | 0 | — | 13 | 248 |
| FY2023 | 10 | $4.1M | $308K | 0 | — | 10 | 126 |
| FY2022 | 5 | $2.9M | $104K | 2 | — | 7 | 74 |
| FY2021 | 7 | $12.7M | $1.2M | 0 | — | 7 | 91 |
| FY2020 | 6 | $8.3M | $763K | 1 | — | 7 | 48 |
| FY2019 | 7 | $5.9M | $415K | 0 | — | 7 | 79 |
| FY2018 | 9 | $6.6M | $144K | 0 | — | 9 | 68 |
| FY2017 | 6 | $6.0M | $546K | 0 | — | 6 | 60 |
| FY2016 | 11 | $8.2M | $150K | 0 | — | 11 | 140 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 40 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Craven County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 49 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 22.0 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $350K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $813K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 4.1% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 17.2 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.7% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less12.2%6
- $50,001 to $150,00018.4%9
- $150,001 to $350,00018.4%9
- $350,001 to $1 million28.6%14
- $1 million to $2 million8.2%4
- Over $2 million14.3%7
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old40.8%20
- New business, 2 years or less22.4%11
- Startup, loan funds will open the business20.4%10
- Change of ownership16.3%8
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Craven County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Live Oak Banking Company (6), The Huntington National Bank (5), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (4), Newtek Bank, National Association (4), GBank (3). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Craven County?
The median 7(a) approval was $350K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Craven County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Building Equipment Contractors (6); Traveler Accommodation (4); Building Finishing Contractors (4); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (3).
Is SBA lending in Craven County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 35, against 21 in the three before: rising (+67%).
How does Craven County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
22.0 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 28.5 statewide, and 49 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