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County42nd of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37105
SBA loans in Lee 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 37 loans to businesses in Lee County, North Carolina, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $31.1M: 35 under 7(a) and 2 under 504.
That is 25.3 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,460 establishments in 2023), close to the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 42nd of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 13.
20 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Live Oak Banking Company (6), Celtic Bank Corporation (4) and Northeast Bank (3). 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 Lee County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 20 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 6 | $6.5M | 16.2% | |
| 2 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 4 | $6.2M | 10.8% | |
| 3 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 3 | $578K | 8.1% | |
| 4 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 3 | $40K | 8.1% | |
| 5 | The Fidelity BankFuquay Varina, NC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 6 | First BankSouthern Pines, NC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Business Expansion Funding CorporationCharlotte, NC · CDC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 8 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 9 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 10 | FDIC - Community Bank & Trust-West GeorgiaLagrange, GA | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 11 | Atlantic Union BankRichmond, VA | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 12 | First Financial BankEl Dorado, AR | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 13 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 14 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 15 | Citizens BankElizabethton, TN | 1 | — | 2.7% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 2 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 3 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 4 | Personal and Household Goods Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8114 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 5 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 6 | Health and Personal Care RetailersNAICS 4561 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4239 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 8 | Nonresidential Building ConstructionNAICS 2362 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 9 | Grocery and Related Product Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4244 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 10 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 2 | 5.4% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 6 | 16.2% | |
| 2 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 6 | 16.2% | |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 4 | Accommodation and Food Services | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 5 | Wholesale Trade | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 6 | Construction | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 7 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 2 | 5.4% |
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* | 12 | $9.0M | $373K | 1 | — | 13 | 150 |
| FY2025 | 12 | $10.6M | $550K | 1 | — | 13 | 175 |
| FY2024 | 6 | $5.2M | $570K | 0 | — | 6 | 23 |
| FY2023 | 8 | $8.8M | $120K | 0 | — | 8 | 54 |
| FY2022 | 5 | $2.2M | $500K | 0 | — | 5 | 17 |
| FY2021 | 4 | $2.8M | $702K | 1 | — | 5 | 96 |
| FY2020 | 5 | $2.9M | $658K | 0 | — | 5 | 25 |
| FY2019 | 7 | $7.3M | $406K | 0 | — | 7 | 53 |
| FY2018 | 7 | $1.4M | $155K | 0 | — | 7 | 38 |
| FY2017 | 6 | $3.3M | $300K | 0 | — | 6 | 39 |
| FY2016 | 5 | $2.9M | $150K | 2 | — | 7 | 39 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 32 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Lee County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 37 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 25.3 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $500K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $839K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 5.4% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 9.9 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.5% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less13.5%5
- $50,001 to $150,00013.5%5
- $150,001 to $350,00010.8%4
- $350,001 to $1 million35.1%13
- $1 million to $2 million18.9%7
- Over $2 million8.1%3
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old48.6%18
- New business, 2 years or less18.9%7
- Startup, loan funds will open the business18.9%7
- Change of ownership13.5%5
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Lee County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Live Oak Banking Company (6), Celtic Bank Corporation (4), Northeast Bank (3), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (3), The Fidelity Bank (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Lee County?
The median 7(a) approval was $500K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Lee County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (3); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (3); Gasoline Stations (2); Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (2); Lessors of Real Estate (2).
Is SBA lending in Lee County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 27, against 15 in the three before: rising (+80%).
How does Lee County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
25.3 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 28.5 statewide, and 37 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