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County43rd of 99 in North Carolina by approvalsFIPS 37195
SBA loans in Wilson 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 Wilson County, North Carolina, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $27.1M: 35 under 7(a) and 2 under 504.
That is 20.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,818 establishments in 2023), below the North Carolina figure of 28.5 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 43rd of 99 North Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 6.
24 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Wells Fargo Bank National Association (3), Live Oak Banking Company (3) and GBank (2). The most common industry was building equipment contractors.
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 Wilson County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 24 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 3 | $4.4M | 8.1% | |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 3 | $1.8M | 8.1% | |
| 3 | GBankLas Vegas, NV | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 4 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 5 | HomeTrust BankAsheville, NC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 6 | First BankSouthern Pines, NC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Metro City BankDoraville, GA | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 8 | Merchants & Marine BankPascagoula, MS | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 9 | Business Expansion Funding CorporationCharlotte, NC · CDC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 10 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 11 | Southern Bank and Trust CompanyMount Olive, NC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 12 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 13 | Happen BankLehi, UT | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 14 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 15 | KS Bank, Inc.Smithfield, NC | 1 | — | 2.7% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 5 | 13.5% | |
| 2 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 3 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 4 | Grocery StoresNAICS 4451 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 5 | Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)NAICS 7224 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 6 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related ActivitiesNAICS 5242 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 8 | Home Health Care ServicesNAICS 6216 | 1 | 2.7% | |
| 9 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 1 | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Freight Transportation ArrangementNAICS 4885 | 1 | 2.7% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 10 | 27.0% | |
| 2 | Construction | 6 | 16.2% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 6 | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 2.7% | |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 2.7% |
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* | 6 | $1.9M | $325K | 0 | — | 6 | 171 |
| FY2025 | 6 | $2.4M | $274K | 0 | — | 6 | 42 |
| FY2024 | 9 | $5.8M | $401K | 0 | — | 9 | 55 |
| FY2023 | 8 | $6.2M | $560K | 0 | — | 8 | 162 |
| FY2022 | 5 | $2.9M | $350K | 0 | — | 5 | 26 |
| FY2021 | 7 | $9.4M | $734K | 2 | — | 9 | 145 |
| FY2020 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 4 |
| FY2019 | 2 | — | — | 0 | — | 2 | 10 |
| FY2018 | 4 | $5.9M | $499K | 0 | — | 4 | 17 |
| FY2017 | 13 | $12.8M | $822K | 0 | — | 13 | 187 |
| FY2016 | 4 | $4.1M | $228K | 1 | — | 5 | 41 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 25 approvals.
Against North Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Wilson County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 37 | 7,353 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 20.4 | 28.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $500K | $326K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $753K | $657K |
| Average approval | $733K | $731K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 5.4% | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 11.6 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.5% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less13.5%5
- $50,001 to $150,00016.2%6
- $150,001 to $350,00013.5%5
- $350,001 to $1 million32.4%12
- $1 million to $2 million13.5%5
- Over $2 million10.8%4
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old51.4%19
- New business, 2 years or less13.5%5
- Startup, loan funds will open the business24.3%9
- Change of ownership10.8%4
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Wilson County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Wells Fargo Bank National Association (3), Live Oak Banking Company (3), GBank (2), Readycap Lending, LLC (2), HomeTrust Bank (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Wilson County?
The median 7(a) approval was $500K; the North Carolina 7(a) median was $326K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Wilson County?
Building Equipment Contractors (5); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (4); Traveler Accommodation (3); Grocery Stores (2); Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (2).
Is SBA lending in Wilson County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 23, against 15 in the three before: rising (+53%).
How does Wilson County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
20.4 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