States › North Carolina › Watauga County
County38th of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37189
SBA loans in Watauga 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 42 loans to businesses in Watauga County, North Carolina, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $27.6M: 39 under 7(a) and 3 under 504.
That is 24.1 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,740 establishments in 2023), below the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 38th of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 10.
19 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Wells Fargo Bank National Association (6), Customers Bank (5) and HomeTrust Bank (4). The most common industry was furniture and home furnishings retailers.
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 Watauga County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 19 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 6 | $2.8M | 14.3% | |
| 2 | Customers BankMalvern, PA | 5 | $6.4M | 11.9% | |
| 3 | HomeTrust BankAsheville, NC | 4 | $4.9M | 9.5% | |
| 4 | First Community BankBluefield, VA | 4 | $749K | 9.5% | |
| 5 | Business Expansion Funding CorporationCharlotte, NC · CDC | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 6 | Atlantic Union BankRichmond, VA | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 7 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Bank of America, National AssociationCharlotte, NC | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 9 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 10 | Mountain Bizcapital, Inc.Asheville, NC | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 11 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 12 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 4.8% | |
| 13 | First Horizon BankMemphis, TN | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 14 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 15 | First National Bank of PennsylvaniaGreenville, PA | 1 | — | 2.4% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furniture and Home Furnishings RetailersNAICS 4491 | 5 | 11.9% | |
| 2 | Activities Related to Real EstateNAICS 5313 | 3 | 7.1% | |
| 3 | Beverage ManufacturingNAICS 3121 | 3 | 7.1% | |
| 4 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 3 | 7.1% | |
| 5 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 3 | 7.1% | |
| 6 | Utility System ConstructionNAICS 2371 | 2 | 4.8% | |
| 7 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 2 | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Data Processing, Hosting, and Related ServicesNAICS 5182 | 2 | 4.8% | |
| 9 | Child Day Care ServicesNAICS 6244 | 2 | 4.8% | |
| 10 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 2 | 4.8% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | 9 | 21.4% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 8 | 19.0% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 5 | 11.9% | |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 11.9% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 4 | 9.5% | |
| 6 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3 | 7.1% | |
| 7 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2 | 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* | 3 | $423K | $100K | 0 | — | 3 | 7 |
| FY2025 | 10 | $4.9M | $255K | 0 | — | 10 | 60 |
| FY2024 | 7 | $1.7M | $100K | 1 | — | 8 | 99 |
| FY2023 | 10 | $9.3M | $375K | 0 | — | 10 | 180 |
| FY2022 | 4 | $668K | $73K | 1 | — | 5 | 37 |
| FY2021 | 8 | $6.9M | $595K | 1 | — | 9 | 82 |
| FY2020 | 6 | $1.9M | $142K | 0 | — | 6 | 32 |
| FY2019 | 6 | $2.3M | $100K | 0 | — | 6 | 29 |
| FY2018 | 6 | $980K | $125K | 0 | — | 6 | 72 |
| FY2017 | 6 | $1.0M | $115K | 2 | — | 8 | 73 |
| FY2016 | 7 | $4.1M | $200K | 0 | — | 7 | 91 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 33 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Watauga County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 42 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 24.1 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $267K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $484K | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $656K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 7.1% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 10.9 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.6% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less23.8%10
- $50,001 to $150,00016.7%7
- $150,001 to $350,00014.3%6
- $350,001 to $1 million21.4%9
- $1 million to $2 million7.1%3
- Over $2 million16.7%7
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old54.8%23
- New business, 2 years or less21.4%9
- Change of ownership23.8%10
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Watauga County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Wells Fargo Bank National Association (6), Customers Bank (5), HomeTrust Bank (4), First Community Bank (4), Business Expansion Funding Corporation (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Watauga County?
The median 7(a) approval was $267K and the median 504 approval $484K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Watauga County?
Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (5); Activities Related to Real Estate (3); Beverage Manufacturing (3); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (3); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (3).
Is SBA lending in Watauga County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 28, against 20 in the three before: rising (+40%).
How does Watauga County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
24.1 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 28.5 statewide, and 42 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