Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Durham County?
171 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Durham County recently, at a median of $325,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
171 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Durham County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $325,000. The most active lender was Northeast Bank, with 11 loans.
SBA lending in Durham County, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans that were actually approved to businesses in this county, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Durham County | North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 171 | 5,070 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $325,000 | $300,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $100,000 - $995,000 | $100,000 - $731,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.75% | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 40.9% | 41.6% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 8.1% | 7.1% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 2,351 | 57,356 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Durham County. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own loans in this county, not its national averages.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Bank | 11 | $100,000 | 18% | 11.25% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 11 | $103,500 | 0% | 11.25% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 10 | $495,000 | 60% | 10.25% |
| The Fidelity Bank | 10 | $919,000 | 20% | 10.75% |
| TowneBank | 9 | $1,705,000 | 67% | 10.50% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 8 | $17,500 | 88% | 12.62% |
| Newtek Bank | 8 | $125,000 | 0% | 11.50% |
| PNC Bank | 6 | $257,500 | 33% | 10.53% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 6 | $537,500 | 50% | 10.25% |
| Bank of Oak Ridge | 6 | $1,014,000 | 100% | 9.62% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $325,000 is 117% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- Startup share is about average, at 41% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 19% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
- Rates run higher here. The median initial rate of 10.75% is 0.50 points above the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
Who borrows in Durham County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 29 | 17.0% |
| Healthcare | 22 | 12.9% |
| Construction | 22 | 12.9% |
| Professional Services | 19 | 11.1% |
| Personal Services | 16 | 9.4% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 7.0% |
| Trucking | 11 | 6.4% |
| Retail | 11 | 6.4% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan in this county is close to what you need. Size match matters more than brand.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year — see choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator, so you ask for a number your cash flow supports.
- Follow your sector link in the table above for lender data specific to your industry across North Carolina.
Other counties in North Carolina
- Nearby markets with published data: Mecklenburg County, Wake County, Guilford County, New Hanover County, Buncombe County, Union County, Forsyth County, Cabarrus County