Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Charleston County?
335 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Charleston County recently, at a median of $275,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
335 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Charleston County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $275,000. The most active lender was The Huntington National Bank, with 48 loans.
SBA lending in Charleston 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 | Charleston County | South Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 335 | 2,479 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $275,000 | $250,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $100,000 - $582,000 | $73,500 - $611,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 36.7% | 41.5% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 8.1% | 9.0% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 3,104 | 25,214 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Charleston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 48 | $282,000 | 58% | 9.75% |
| TD Bank | 44 | $60,000 | 43% | 11.00% |
| SouthState Bank | 19 | $500,000 | 26% | 10.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 17 | $150,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 16 | $365,050 | 44% | 10.38% |
| Newtek Bank | 16 | $136,500 | 25% | 11.00% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 13 | $50,000 | 15% | 13.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 12 | $150,000 | 0% | 10.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 11 | $50,000 | 82% | 10.75% |
| Beacon Community Bank | 9 | $350,000 | 44% | 10.00% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $275,000 is 83% 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 37% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 33% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Who borrows in Charleston County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by construction.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 44 | 13.1% |
| Healthcare | 42 | 12.5% |
| Retail | 41 | 12.2% |
| Personal Services | 40 | 11.9% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 38 | 11.3% |
| Professional Services | 35 | 10.4% |
| Admin Services | 24 | 7.2% |
| Arts and Recreation | 17 | 5.1% |
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 South Carolina.
Other counties in South Carolina
- Nearby markets with published data: Greenville County, Richland County, Horry County, York County, Spartanburg County, Beaufort County, Lexington County, Berkeley County