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County9th of 50 in West Virginia by approvalsFIPS 54003
SBA loans in Berkeley County, West Virginia
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 Berkeley County, West Virginia, received 37 SBA loan approvals worth $26.3M in FY2021 to FY2025 (35 7(a), 2 504).
That is 19.9 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,859 establishments in 2023), below the West Virginia figure of 26.7 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 9th of 50 West Virginia counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 12.
20 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Potomac Bank (9), The Huntington National Bank (4) and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (3). 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 Berkeley County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 20 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potomac BankCharles Town, WV | 9 | $7.7M | 24.3% | |
| 2 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 4 | $959K | 10.8% | |
| 3 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust CompanyBuffalo, NY | 3 | $980K | 8.1% | |
| 4 | The First Bank and Trust CompanyLebanon, VA | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 5 | Business Finance Group, Inc.Fairfax, VA · CDC | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 6 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 2 | — | 5.4% | |
| 8 | The Bank of EdisonEdison, GA | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 9 | FDIC - Community Bank & Trust-West GeorgiaLagrange, GA | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 10 | PCB BankLos Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 11 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 12 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 13 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 14 | Fund-Ex Solutions Group, LLCDavie, FL | 1 | — | 2.7% | |
| 15 | Harvest Small Business Finance, LLCLaguna Hills, CA | 1 | — | 2.7% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 2 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 3 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 4 | Health and Personal Care RetailersNAICS 4561 | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 5 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 6 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesNAICS 5416 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 7 | Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product ManufacturingNAICS 3279 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 8 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 9 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 2 | 5.4% | |
| 10 | Plastics Product ManufacturingNAICS 3261 | 1 | 2.7% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 7 | 18.9% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 6 | 16.2% | |
| 3 | Construction | 5 | 13.5% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 5 | 13.5% | |
| 5 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 10.8% | |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3 | 8.1% | |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 5.4% |
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* | 10 | $1.8M | $70K | 2 | — | 12 | 68 |
| FY2025 | 12 | $11.7M | $203K | 0 | — | 12 | 361 |
| FY2024 | 4 | $3.8M | $100K | 0 | — | 4 | 36 |
| FY2023 | 7 | $4.4M | $841K | 2 | — | 9 | 142 |
| FY2022 | 9 | $5.1M | $350K | 0 | — | 9 | 193 |
| FY2021 | 3 | $795K | $309K | 0 | — | 3 | 36 |
| FY2020 | 2 | — | — | 0 | — | 2 | 27 |
| FY2019 | 9 | $1.8M | $150K | 0 | — | 9 | 92 |
| FY2018 | 7 | $4.9M | $180K | 0 | — | 7 | 56 |
| FY2017 | 11 | $5.1M | $150K | 0 | — | 11 | 122 |
| FY2016 | 6 | $3.4M | $350K | 1 | — | 7 | 22 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 36 approvals.
Against West Virginia and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Berkeley County | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 37 | 958 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 19.9 | 26.7 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $318K | $115K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $438K | $657K |
| Average approval | $710K | $398K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 5.4% | 2.4% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 20.8 | 9.1 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 3.9% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less13.5%5
- $50,001 to $150,00016.2%6
- $150,001 to $350,00037.8%14
- $350,001 to $1 million18.9%7
- $1 million to $2 million5.4%2
- Over $2 million8.1%3
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old32.4%12
- New business, 2 years or less16.2%6
- Startup, loan funds will open the business40.5%15
- Change of ownership10.8%4
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Berkeley County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Potomac Bank (9), The Huntington National Bank (4), Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (3), The First Bank and Trust Company (2), Business Finance Group, Inc. (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Berkeley County?
The median 7(a) approval was $318K; the West Virginia 7(a) median was $115K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Berkeley County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (4); Personal Care Services (4); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (3); Health and Personal Care Retailers (3); Building Equipment Contractors (2).
Is SBA lending in Berkeley County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 25, against 14 in the three before: rising (+79%).
How does Berkeley County compare with the rest of West Virginia?
19.9 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 26.7 statewide, and 37 of the state's 958 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