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County4th of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37129
SBA loans in New Hanover 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 315 loans to businesses in New Hanover County, North Carolina, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $253M: 289 under 7(a) and 26 under 504.
That is 36.2 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (8,710 establishments in 2023), above the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 4th of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 80, up 16% on FY2024.
64 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Live Oak Banking Company (53), The Huntington National Bank (15) and Business Expansion Funding Corporation (14). 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 New Hanover County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 64 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 53 | $46.4M | 16.8% | |
| 2 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 15 | $4.0M | 4.8% | |
| 3 | Business Expansion Funding CorporationCharlotte, NC · CDC | 14 | $17.6M | 4.4% | |
| 4 | First BankSouthern Pines, NC | 14 | $15.0M | 4.4% | |
| 5 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 14 | $1.9M | 4.4% | |
| 6 | TD Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 13 | $7.9M | 4.1% | |
| 7 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 12 | $2.3M | 3.8% | |
| 8 | TowneBankPortsmouth, VA | 11 | $19.9M | 3.5% | |
| 9 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 11 | $1.8M | 3.5% | |
| 10 | First National Bank of PennsylvaniaGreenville, PA | 10 | $6.3M | 3.2% | |
| 11 | Southern Bank and Trust CompanyMount Olive, NC | 8 | $4.3M | 2.5% | |
| 12 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 8 | $2.3M | 2.5% | |
| 13 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 7 | $845K | 2.2% | |
| 14 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 6 | $4.8M | 1.9% | |
| 15 | First Bank of the LakeOsage Beach, MO | 5 | $11.8M | 1.6% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 35 | 11.1% | |
| 2 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 15 | 4.8% | |
| 3 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 13 | 4.1% | |
| 4 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 11 | 3.5% | |
| 5 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 11 | 3.5% | |
| 6 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 10 | 3.2% | |
| 7 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 9 | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 8 | 2.5% | |
| 9 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 8 | 2.5% | |
| 10 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 7 | 2.2% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 53 | 16.8% | |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 47 | 14.9% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 35 | 11.1% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 34 | 10.8% | |
| 5 | Construction | 31 | 9.8% | |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 30 | 9.5% | |
| 7 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 15 | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Manufacturing | 15 | 4.8% |
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* | 37 | $17.6M | $300K | 0 | — | 37 | 314 |
| FY2025 | 76 | $53.5M | $350K | 4 | $9.2M | 80 | 896 |
| FY2024 | 63 | $47.5M | $380K | 6 | $11.0M | 69 | 784 |
| FY2023 | 53 | $31.9M | $300K | 4 | $3.0M | 57 | 870 |
| FY2022 | 44 | $30.1M | $347K | 5 | $2.9M | 49 | 716 |
| FY2021 | 53 | $57.4M | $686K | 7 | $6.3M | 60 | 975 |
| FY2020 | 41 | $26.2M | $350K | 6 | $4.7M | 47 | 632 |
| FY2019 | 58 | $32.0M | $309K | 2 | — | 60 | 980 |
| FY2018 | 38 | $22.7M | $125K | 3 | $4.1M | 41 | 338 |
| FY2017 | 52 | $29.6M | $228K | 4 | $3.2M | 56 | 611 |
| FY2016 | 42 | $30.8M | $175K | 3 | $6.0M | 45 | 360 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 249 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | New Hanover County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 315 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 36.2 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $350K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $853K | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $802K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 8.3% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 13.5 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 4.3% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less14.6%46
- $50,001 to $150,00012.7%40
- $150,001 to $350,00020.6%65
- $350,001 to $1 million27.9%88
- $1 million to $2 million11.7%37
- Over $2 million12.4%39
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old45.4%143
- New business, 2 years or less21.9%69
- Startup, loan funds will open the business19.0%60
- Change of ownership13.7%43
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in New Hanover County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Live Oak Banking Company (53), The Huntington National Bank (15), Business Expansion Funding Corporation (14), First Bank (14), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (14). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in New Hanover County?
The median 7(a) approval was $350K and the median 504 approval $853K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in New Hanover County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (35); Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (15); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (13); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (11); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (11).
Is SBA lending in New Hanover County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 206, against 156 in the three before: rising (+32%).
How does New Hanover County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
36.2 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 28.5 statewide, and 315 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