Lending data
Who actually lends to wholesale businesses in North Carolina?
156 SBA 7(a) loans went to wholesale businesses in North Carolina recently, at a median of $282,050. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
156 SBA 7(a) loans went to wholesale businesses in North Carolina in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $282,050 over 10 years. The most active lender was Wells Fargo Bank, with 17 loans.
What lending to wholesale businesses in North 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 | Wholesale trade, North Carolina | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 156 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $282,050 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $150,000 - $733,350 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 24.4% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 6.9% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to wholesale businesses in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank | 17 | $25,000 | 71% | 13.00% |
| Bank of America | 14 | $287,500 | 14% | 7.72% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 11 | $350,000 | 18% | 9.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 9 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 8 | $300,000 | 0% | 10.25% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7 | $199,000 | 0% | 11.25% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 6 | $375,000 | 0% | 9.37% |
| TowneBank | 6 | $447,500 | 67% | 10.50% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 5 | $1,198,000 | 20% | 8.50% |
| First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 5 | $1,864,000 | 0% | 8.75% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $282,050 is 88% 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.
- This is a hard market for new businesses. Only 24% of these loans went to startups, against 34% nationally. If you are pre-revenue, work from the startup table below rather than the main list.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 27% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 24.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank | 12 | $25,000 | 71% | 13.00% |
| TowneBank | 4 | $447,500 | 67% | 10.50% |
| CIBC Bank USA | 4 | $811,500 | 100% | 9.50% |
| Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company | 2 | $590,000 | 67% | 10.75% |
| TD Bank | 2 | $160,000 | 67% | 11.50% |
| Bank of America | 2 | $287,500 | 14% | 7.72% |
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 North Carolina: restaurants and hotels, construction, retail, personal services, professional services, healthcare
- Wholesale in comparable states: Massachusetts, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Washington, Missouri