First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company SBA 7(a) Lending Program

In 2025, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company approved $138.4M in SBA 7(a) loans across 117 deals, earning a #52 national ranking by volume. Their SBA lending program supported approximately 2,634 jobs and positions them as a larger-deal lender handling substantial acquisitions and commercial real estate.

With an average SBA 7(a) rate of 9.7%, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company prices slightly below the national average of 10.32%. This 0.62% advantage may not seem dramatic, but over a 10-year SBA loan on a $500K deal, it translates to roughly $31,000 in interest savings.

Their SBA lending is concentrated in California, South Carolina, Georgia, with notable SBA loan volume in industries like Full-Service Restaurants, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists), Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing. The data below is sourced entirely from official SBA FOIA records and covers First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA 7(a) lending activity for calendar year 2025 — not their conventional lending or other banking products.

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company SBA Loan Reviews

First Citizens Bank (which acquired Silicon Valley Bank) is a major Southeast SBA lender. Their SBA program serves businesses across the Carolinas and beyond with dedicated SBA specialists.

Reviews sourced from Trustpilot, BBB, and other public review platforms. Individual experiences may vary. GoSBA Loans is not affiliated with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company SBA Loans by Business Type

Not all SBA lenders fund the same types of deals. Some focus their SBA programs on established businesses with years of cash flow history, while others actively seek out startup financing or business acquisition deals. Understanding First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA loan mix helps you assess whether their program aligns with your specific situation. Here’s how their $138.4M in 2025 SBA 7(a) approvals breaks down:

Startup SBA loans represent 15% of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA portfolio (13 loans totaling $20.5M). This is a moderate level of startup lending — First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company is willing to fund new businesses but appears to prefer deals with some operating history or strong borrower credentials.

Business acquisitions (change of ownership) account for a significant 34% of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA lending (21 deals totaling $47.5M). This tells us First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA team has deep experience underwriting acquisition deals — evaluating seller financials, business valuations, and transition plans. If you’re buying a business with an SBA loan, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company is well-equipped to handle the complexity.

Existing business SBA loans represent the largest category at 45% of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA portfolio ($61.8M across 74 loans). These are businesses with 2+ years of operating history, and they typically receive the fastest SBA approvals and most competitive rates because lenders can evaluate actual financial performance rather than projections. New businesses (under 2 years old) account for 6% ($8.5M, 9 SBA loans).

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company vs. National Average

How does First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company compare to the average SBA 7(a) lender in 2025? The SBA 7(a) program funded 78078 loans totaling $478K in average loan size at a 10.32% average rate. Here’s how First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company stacks up:

Understanding how First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company compares to national benchmarks helps you evaluate whether their terms are competitive. A rate lower than the national average of 10.32% can translate to significant savings over the life of a 10-25 year SBA loan. However, individual rates depend on your credit profile, deal structure, and the specific lender relationship — which is why comparing multiple offers is critical.

Variable vs. Fixed Rate Breakdown

SBA 7(a) loans can carry either variable or fixed interest rates. Variable rates are tied to the Prime Rate and adjust quarterly, while fixed rates remain constant for the life of the loan. Here’s how First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s portfolio breaks down:

Variable rate loans made up 92.3% of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s SBA portfolio at an average rate of 9.84%. Fixed rate loans accounted for 7.7% at 8.08%. The SBA caps variable rates at Prime + 2.75% for most loans, so your actual rate depends on the spread each lender charges. Fixed rate loans offer rate certainty but are less common in the SBA 7(a) program.

Loan Term Breakdown

SBA 7(a) loan terms typically range from 7 to 25 years depending on the use of proceeds. Loans for commercial real estate qualify for 25-year terms, while working capital and business acquisition loans typically max out at 10 years. Here’s how First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s portfolio splits:

Long-term loans (typically for commercial real estate purchases) carry significantly lower rates averaging 9.22% compared to 10.03% for shorter-term working capital and business acquisition loans. The average long-term loan is also larger at $1.7M vs $820K for short-term loans. If your deal involves real estate, you’ll generally qualify for longer terms and lower rates.

Top States for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company SBA Loans

Geographic presence matters in SBA lending. Lenders who are active in your state often have relationships with local SBA district offices, understand regional real estate markets, and may have branch locations that can facilitate closings. The table below shows every state where First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company funded SBA 7(a) loans in 2025, ranked by total dollar volume:

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company funded SBA loans across 15 states in 2025, with the heaviest concentration in California, South Carolina, Georgia. If your business is located in one of these high-volume states, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company likely has loan officers who understand your local market conditions — commercial real estate values, industry mix, and economic dynamics. This familiarity can translate to faster underwriting and more competitive terms.

That said, many borrowers benefit from working with lenders outside their immediate geography. National SBA lenders may offer better rates or more experience with your specific industry. An SBA loan broker can identify the best match regardless of location.

Top Industries Funded by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company

Industry specialization is one of the most underrated factors in SBA lending. A lender who has funded 50 dental practices understands the economics of that business model far better than one processing their first dental deal. The table below shows which industries First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company funded most actively in 2025:

If your business falls within one of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s top-funded industries, you may benefit from their underwriting familiarity. Lenders with deep industry experience understand the typical revenue patterns, seasonal cash flow fluctuations, margin structures, and collateral values specific to your sector. This expertise typically translates into three tangible advantages: faster processing (they know exactly what documentation to request), higher approval rates (they can accurately assess risk without conservative assumptions), and more competitive terms (they price the loan based on actual industry data rather than generalized risk models).

Conversely, if your industry doesn’t appear in First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s top list, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t fund your deal — but you may want to prioritize lenders who have more experience with your business type. An SBA loan broker can identify which lenders have the deepest expertise in your specific industry.

How to Get an SBA Loan Through First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company

There are two primary ways to access First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company for an SBA 7(a) loan, and the path you choose can significantly impact your rate, terms, and timeline:

Option 1: Apply directly to First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. You can contact First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s commercial lending team and submit an SBA 7(a) application. This approach is straightforward — you work with one bank, one loan officer, and receive a single offer. The advantage is simplicity. The disadvantage is that you have no way to know whether First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company’s terms are competitive without a reference point. You’re essentially accepting whatever rate and terms they offer.

Option 2: Use an SBA loan broker (recommended). An SBA loan broker like GoSBA Loans submits your application to First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and 50+ other SBA lenders simultaneously. Instead of one quote, you receive 3-5 competing term sheets. This fundamentally changes the negotiation dynamic — lenders know they’re competing for your business, which drives rates down and speeds up processing. The broker’s service is completely free to borrowers because lenders pay the broker origination fee.

What to prepare: Regardless of which path you choose, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company will typically require 2-3 years of business and personal tax returns, a 10% equity injection, a personal financial statement (SBA Form 413), and details about the business or property you’re acquiring. For acquisitions, you’ll also need the seller’s financial records and a signed Letter of Intent.

Frequently Asked Questions

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company SBA Alternatives

While First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company is a strong SBA lender ranked #52 nationally, many borrowers benefit from comparing offers across multiple banks. Each SBA lender has different rate spreads, industry preferences, geographic focus areas, and appetite for startups vs. existing businesses. The lenders below represent the top SBA 7(a) lenders in the country by total loan volume — any of them could be a viable alternative depending on your specific deal:

• #1 Live Oak Banking Company — $2.85B funded across 2280 loans
• #2 The Huntington National Bank — $2.09B funded across 6998 loans
• #3 Newtek Bank, National Association — $2.03B funded across 4828 loans
• #4 Northeast Bank — $1.32B funded across 7815 loans
• #5 Readycap Lending, LLC — $1.17B funded across 3137 loans
• #6 U.S. Bank, National Association — $871.2M funded across 3453 loans
• #7 First Internet Bank of Indiana — $712.3M funded across 487 loans
• #8 Celtic Bank Corporation — $592.9M funded across 1482 loans
• #9 JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association — $590.5M funded across 1914 loans
• #10 Byline Bank — $561.1M funded across 505 loans

The best way to determine which lender is the right fit for your deal is to submit a single application through an SBA loan broker like GoSBA and let multiple lenders compete for your business. This way you see actual term sheets from First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and its competitors — side by side — before making a decision.

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Data sourced from official SBA 7(a) FOIA loan approval records for Calendar Year 2025, published by the U.S. Small Business Administration. For official SBA program information, visit sba.gov.