States › Pennsylvania › Centre County
County24th of 67 in Pennsylvania by approvalsFIPS 42027
SBA loans in Centre County, Pennsylvania
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 Centre County, Pennsylvania, received 83 SBA loan approvals worth $36.6M in FY2021 to FY2025 (76 7(a), 7 504).
That is 24.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (3,344 establishments in 2023), below the Pennsylvania figure of 36.7 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 24th of 67 Pennsylvania counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 15, down 42% on FY2024.
21 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (15), Northwest Bank (12) and First Commonwealth Bank (8). 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 Centre County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 21 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust CompanyBuffalo, NY | 15 | $1.5M | 18.1% | |
| 2 | Northwest BankWarren, PA | 12 | $1.5M | 14.5% | |
| 3 | First Commonwealth BankIndiana, PA | 8 | $4.6M | 9.6% | |
| 4 | Enterprise BankAllison Park, PA | 7 | $1.8M | 8.4% | |
| 5 | SEDA-COG Local Development CorporationLewisburg, PA · CDC | 6 | $7.4M | 7.2% | |
| 6 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 6 | $5.0M | 7.2% | |
| 7 | First National Bank of PennsylvaniaGreenville, PA | 4 | $1.3M | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSBWilmington, DE | 3 | $1.7M | 3.6% | |
| 9 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 3 | $1.6M | 3.6% | |
| 10 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 3 | $650K | 3.6% | |
| 11 | Meridian BankMalvern, PA | 2 | — | 2.4% | |
| 12 | Reliance Savings BankAltoona, PA | 2 | — | 2.4% | |
| 13 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 2 | — | 2.4% | |
| 14 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 2.4% | |
| 15 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 2.4% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 14 | 16.9% | |
| 2 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 7 | 8.4% | |
| 3 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 6 | 7.2% | |
| 4 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 5 | 6.0% | |
| 5 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 4 | 4.8% | |
| 6 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 3 | 3.6% | |
| 7 | Computer Systems Design and Related ServicesNAICS 5415 | 3 | 3.6% | |
| 8 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 3 | 3.6% | |
| 9 | Health and Personal Care StoresNAICS 4461 | 2 | 2.4% | |
| 10 | Business Support ServicesNAICS 5614 | 2 | 2.4% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 16 | 19.3% | |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 15 | 18.1% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 10 | 12.0% | |
| 4 | Construction | 8 | 9.6% | |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 7 | 8.4% | |
| 6 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 6 | 7.2% | |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 6 | 7.2% | |
| 8 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 7.2% |
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 | $5.0M | $150K | 0 | — | 8 | 52 |
| FY2025 | 15 | $5.8M | $250K | 0 | — | 15 | 428 |
| FY2024 | 24 | $3.7M | $60K | 2 | — | 26 | 140 |
| FY2023 | 15 | $4.3M | $100K | 0 | — | 15 | 166 |
| FY2022 | 11 | $9.7M | $300K | 3 | $2.2M | 14 | 409 |
| FY2021 | 11 | $5.2M | $285K | 2 | — | 13 | 124 |
| FY2020 | 10 | $4.0M | $135K | 2 | — | 12 | 187 |
| FY2019 | 13 | $2.9M | $150K | 2 | — | 15 | 151 |
| FY2018 | 5 | $1.1M | $35K | 4 | $7.4M | 9 | 200 |
| FY2017 | 12 | $3.6M | $93K | 0 | — | 12 | 59 |
| FY2016 | 12 | $2.5M | $162K | 1 | — | 13 | 145 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 61 approvals.
Against Pennsylvania and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Centre County | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 83 | 11,283 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 24.8 | 36.7 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $150K | $150K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $520K | $607K | $657K |
| Average approval | $441K | $482K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 8.4% | 6.5% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 15.3 | 10.3 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.7% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less25.3%21
- $50,001 to $150,00022.9%19
- $150,001 to $350,00015.7%13
- $350,001 to $1 million26.5%22
- $1 million to $2 million6.0%5
- Over $2 million3.6%3
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old47.0%39
- New business, 2 years or less21.7%18
- Startup, loan funds will open the business24.1%20
- Change of ownership6.0%5
- Not answered1.2%1
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Centre County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (15), Northwest Bank (12), First Commonwealth Bank (8), Enterprise Bank (7), SEDA-COG Local Development Corporation (6). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Centre County?
The median 7(a) approval was $150K and the median 504 approval $520K; the Pennsylvania 7(a) median was $150K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Centre County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (14); Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (7); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (5); Services to Buildings and Dwellings (4).
Is SBA lending in Centre County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 56, against 39 in the three before: rising (+44%).
How does Centre County compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
24.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 36.7 statewide, and 83 of the state's 11,283 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