SBA loans by state
SBA loans in South Carolina: 678 approvals in FY 2026, median $295,500
Only 8% of the loans came from lenders based in South Carolina. Franchises took 22% of loans.
Independent site, not a lender and not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Loans are applied for only with an SBA lender.
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South Carolina: 7(a) loans approved last year
678
| Your rate vs. last year’s loans of this size, all states | about the median for this size |
| South Carolina: median rate at approval, $250,001 to $350,000 | 9.75% |
| South Carolina: median 7(a) loan last year | $295,500 |
| Payment over 10 years, SBA fee added to the loan | $3,958/mo |
Last year’s loans: the 7(a) loans SBA approved from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (fiscal year 2026), in SBA’s public loan file of September 30, 2026. Rates at approval were set when prime was 6.75% or 7.00%; today: prime rate 7.00% on November 2, 2026. Your rate is compared on its margin over prime, so the change in prime since last year does not count against you.
South Carolina, FY 2026: 678 SBA 7(a) approvals for $458.9 million (26th of the 50 states and DC, SBA file of September 30, 2026). Only 8% of the loans came from lenders based in South Carolina. Franchises took 22% of loans. No lender dominated: the busiest made 12% of loans. Variable rates dominated: only 7% of loans were fixed. Express was used for only 25% of loans. The median loan, $295,500, was the 10th largest of the 50 states and DC. 17% of approvals were later cancelled. 17% of loans ran 15 years or longer. 28% of loans had their guaranteed part sold to investors. 21% of loans went to businesses not yet open. Lending was spread out; Greenville County led with 15%. Today’s cap on a $296,000 variable loan: 11.50%.
Fee notices read and loan file counted by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
| Lender | FY 2026 loans | Median loan | Median variable rate | Lender’s home state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Bank | 80 | $50,000 | 9.75% | Delaware |
| Newtek Bank | 71 | $200,000 | 9.75% | Florida |
| Northeast Bank | 50 | $150,000 | 9.75% | Maine |
| Live Oak Banking | 48 | $350,000 | 8.75% | North Carolina |
| Huntington National Bank | 43 | $348,500 | 9.25% | Ohio |
Almost no in-state SBA lending
Home-state lenders made just 8% of South Carolina’s loans, 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC. A borrower here usually ends up with TD Bank and Newtek Bank, dealing by phone and online rather than at a branch. Margins: 2.25 points over prime at the median for in-state lenders, 2.75 points for the others.
Franchise lending stands out
22% of South Carolina’s loans went to franchise units, the highest among the 50 states and DC. The UPS Store appeared most often.
No dominant lender
The busiest lender, TD Bank, made only 12% of South Carolina’s approvals; 102 lenders shared the rest. With that many lenders active, a second and third quote are easy to get.
Fixed rates almost absent
Only 7% of South Carolina’s loans were fixed-rate, 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC. Almost every borrower here carries a prime-based rate whose payment moves when prime does.
| Loan size | Loans | Median variable rate, FY 2026 | SBA maximum today |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | 118 | 10.00% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | 203 | 9.75% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | 85 | 9.75% | 11.50% |
| over $350,000 | 272 | 9.00% | 10.00% |
Standard 7(a) more than Express
Only 25% of South Carolina’s approvals used SBA Express (34% nationally); 73% were made by Preferred Lenders under delegated authority, with the larger standard guaranty of 85% or 75%.
Larger loans than most states
The median South Carolina approval was $295,500, 10th of the 50 states and DC ($220,000 nationally). At that size the variable cap is prime plus 4.5 points, 11.50% today, and the FY 2027 guaranty fee on the median loan is $6,649.
Many approvals cancelled
115 of South Carolina’s approvals, 17%, were later cancelled (14% nationally). A cancelled loan was approved but not carried through, for example when the borrower chose other financing or the deal fell through.
Long real estate loans
17% of South Carolina’s loans ran 15 years or more (13% nationally), the mark of real estate financing. Those loans carry SBA’s prepayment fee of 5%, 3% and 1% in the first three years on prepayments above 25%.
Counties with the most approvals: Greenville (103), Charleston (86) and Beaufort (48). Trades: full-service restaurants (44), limited-service restaurants (26), fitness and recreational sports centers (20), hotels and motels (20) and residential remodelers (16).
All states compared.