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County12th of 46 in South Carolina by approvalsFIPS 45077
SBA loans in Pickens County, South 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 87 loans to businesses in Pickens County, South Carolina, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $42.4M: 85 under 7(a) and 2 under 504.
That is 38.6 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,254 establishments in 2023), above the South Carolina figure of 30.7 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 12th of 46 South Carolina counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 20, down 9% on FY2024.
33 lenders had approvals here; the most active were TD Bank, National Association (25), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (7) and SouthState Bank, National Association (6). 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 Pickens County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 33 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TD Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 25 | $1.8M | 28.7% | |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 7 | $1.1M | 8.0% | |
| 3 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 6 | $3.1M | 6.9% | |
| 4 | CountybankGreenwood, SC | 4 | $2.0M | 4.6% | |
| 5 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 4 | $1.8M | 4.6% | |
| 6 | First BankSouthern Pines, NC | 3 | $4.6M | 3.4% | |
| 7 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 3 | $449K | 3.4% | |
| 8 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 9 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 10 | The Fidelity BankFuquay Varina, NC | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 11 | HomeTrust BankAsheville, NC | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 12 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 13 | Provident Business Financial Services, Inc.West Columbia, SC · CDC | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 14 | Harvest Small Business Finance, LLCLaguna Hills, CA | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 15 | TowneBankPortsmouth, VA | 2 | — | 2.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 6 | 6.9% | |
| 2 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 6 | 6.9% | |
| 3 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 6 | 6.9% | |
| 4 | Remediation and Other Waste Management ServicesNAICS 5629 | 5 | 5.7% | |
| 5 | Grocery StoresNAICS 4451 | 4 | 4.6% | |
| 6 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 4 | 4.6% | |
| 7 | Animal Food ManufacturingNAICS 3111 | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 8 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 9 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 10 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 2 | 2.3% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 15 | 17.2% | |
| 2 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 14 | 16.1% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 11 | 12.6% | |
| 4 | Construction | 9 | 10.3% | |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 9 | 10.3% | |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 8 | 9.2% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 6.9% | |
| 8 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 5.7% |
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* | 15 | $15.2M | $200K | 1 | — | 16 | 131 |
| FY2025 | 20 | $7.4M | $231K | 0 | — | 20 | 271 |
| FY2024 | 21 | $10.6M | $250K | 1 | — | 22 | 194 |
| FY2023 | 19 | $12.3M | $249K | 0 | — | 19 | 340 |
| FY2022 | 15 | $7.1M | $168K | 1 | — | 16 | 102 |
| FY2021 | 10 | $3.6M | $326K | 0 | — | 10 | 92 |
| FY2020 | 12 | $5.3M | $113K | 1 | — | 13 | 55 |
| FY2019 | 7 | $2.9M | $25K | 1 | — | 8 | 35 |
| FY2018 | 17 | $5.5M | $40K | 3 | $6.6M | 20 | 180 |
| FY2017 | 12 | $7.0M | $150K | 0 | — | 12 | 112 |
| FY2016 | 13 | $4.0M | $50K | 1 | — | 14 | 102 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 67 approvals.
Against South Carolina and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Pickens County | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 87 | 3,775 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 38.6 | 30.7 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $249K | $260K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $892K | $657K |
| Average approval | $487K | $666K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 2.3% | 6.5% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 11.5 | 11.3 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 2.3% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less27.6%24
- $50,001 to $150,00014.9%13
- $150,001 to $350,00021.8%19
- $350,001 to $1 million21.8%19
- $1 million to $2 million8.0%7
- Over $2 million5.7%5
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old47.1%41
- New business, 2 years or less27.6%24
- Startup, loan funds will open the business13.8%12
- Change of ownership10.3%9
- Not answered1.1%1
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Pickens County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: TD Bank, National Association (25), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (7), SouthState Bank, National Association (6), Countybank (4), Live Oak Banking Company (4). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Pickens County?
The median 7(a) approval was $249K; the South Carolina 7(a) median was $260K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Pickens County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (6); Other Personal Services (6); Personal Care Services (6); Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5); Grocery Stores (4).
Is SBA lending in Pickens County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 61, against 39 in the three before: rising (+56%).
How does Pickens County compare with the rest of South Carolina?
38.6 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 30.7 statewide, and 87 of the state's 3,775 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