Lending data
Who actually lends to schools and training businesses in South Carolina?
29 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in South Carolina recently, at a median of $150,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
29 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in South Carolina in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $150,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was The Huntington National Bank, with 4 loans.
What lending to schools and training businesses in South Carolina actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Educational services, South Carolina | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 29 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $100,000 - $409,500 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 65.5% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 7.5% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to schools and training businesses in South Carolina. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 4 | $139,000 | 100% | 10.75% |
| Newtek Bank | 3 | $150,000 | 0% | 11.50% |
| TD Bank | 3 | $100,000 | 33% | 10.50% |
| Capital Bank | 2 | $168,500 | 100% | 10.12% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 2 | $55,000 | 0% | 12.00% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $150,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 2 | $697,000 | 100% | 9.00% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $150,000 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- New businesses do well here. 66% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 34% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 65.5% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 4 | $139,000 | 100% | 10.75% |
| Capital Bank | 2 | $168,500 | 100% | 10.12% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $150,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 2 | $697,000 | 100% | 9.00% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- 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 the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in South Carolina: restaurants and hotels, construction, retail, personal services, professional services, healthcare
- Education in comparable states: Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana, New Hampshire, Kansas, Connecticut