South Carolina borrowers can use this ranking to identify banks with meaningful commercial real estate portfolios and compare the composition of those portfolios. The 25 banks in the table hold $21.3 billion in total CRE loans, including $3.7 billion in construction and land loans, $1.3 billion in multifamily loans, $7.9 billion in owner occupied loans and $8.4 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. BestCRE ranks institutions by total commercial real estate loans using FDIC Call Reports, formally called Reports of Condition and Income, with portfolio balances measured as of June 30, 2026.
The ranking is limited to banks headquartered in South Carolina. The state has 44 headquartered banks with $22.0 billion in total CRE loans, up +8.7% year over year. The top five account for 67.1% of that total, showing that much of the reported exposure is concentrated among the leading institutions. Banks headquartered elsewhere are excluded from the ranking even when they operate South Carolina branches. BestCRE treats those institutions separately because their FDIC Call Reports show nationwide portfolios rather than loans made specifically in South Carolina. Branch and deposit information comes from the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026.
South Carolina banks ranked by total CRE loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Community Bank | Greenville, SC | $9,988 | $1,338 | $714 | $3,946 | +4.8% | 50.0% |
| 2 | Southern First Bank | Greenville, SC | $1,830 | $234 | $86.2 | $740 | +9.6% | 45.3% |
| 3 | First Community Bank | Lexington, SC | $1,120 | $167 | $47.6 | $371 | +31.9% | 70.5% |
| 4 | Coastal States Bank | Hilton Head Island, SC | $948 | $160 | $54.1 | $266 | +16.6% | 49.1% |
| 5 | South Atlantic Bank | Myrtle Beach, SC | $908 | $266 | $50.4 | $250 | +10.9% | 58.8% |
| 6 | Anderson Brothers Bank | Mullins, SC | $905 | $369 | $81.9 | $266 | +20.5% | 48.1% |
| 7 | First Capital Bank | Charleston, SC | $534 | $95.4 | $82.4 | $112 | +31.1% | 48.9% |
| 8 | Bank of Travelers Rest | Travelers Rest, SC | $514 | $82.5 | $8.8 | $266 | +2.8% | 55.6% |
| 9 | Coastal Carolina National Bank | Myrtle Beach, SC | $489 | $76.7 | $37.5 | $132 | +10.8% | 49.5% |
| 10 | First Palmetto Bank | Camden, SC | $453 | $83.2 | $5.5 | $159 | +6.5% | 56.9% |
| 11 | First Reliance Bank | Florence, SC | $432 | $49.7 | $9.1 | $168 | +1.8% | 51.5% |
| 12 | The Conway National Bank | Conway, SC | $428 | $125 | $6.8 | $158 | +7.6% | 49.5% |
| 13 | Security Federal Bank | Aiken, SC | $405 | $81.8 | $32.4 | $148 | -4.1% | 58.6% |
| 14 | Carolina Bank & Trust Co. | Lamar, SC | $296 | $38.8 | $6.5 | $128 | -0.8% | 48.8% |
| 15 | Beacon Community Bank | MOUNT PLEASANT, SC | $294 | $63.6 | $12.5 | $65.9 | -1.0% | 33.8% |
| 16 | OPTUS Bank | Columbia, SC | $271 | $53.5 | $19.1 | $150 | +71.3% | 59.3% |
| 17 | Arthur State Bank | Union, SC | $226 | $65.5 | $7.1 | $95.5 | +6.3% | 36.5% |
| 18 | The Citizens Bank | Olanta, SC | $214 | $48.5 | $8.1 | $91.3 | +5.4% | 33.6% |
| 19 | Countybank | Greenwood, SC | $182 | $21.6 | $0.3 | $114 | +4.7% | 44.3% |
| 20 | Southern Bank | Spartanburg, SC | $170 | $39.5 | $2.6 | $56.5 | +23.6% | 64.0% |
| 21 | Bank of the Lowcountry | Walterboro, SC | $156 | $36.5 | $14.2 | $46.9 | +9.8% | 47.9% |
| 22 | The Peoples Bank | Iva, SC | $156 | $43.8 | $0.9 | $46.0 | +7.9% | 56.1% |
| 23 | The Bank of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | $141 | $53.0 | $9.8 | $43.8 | -2.7% | 38.2% |
| 24 | First Piedmont Federal Savings and Loan Association of Gaffney | Gaffney, SC | $130 | $52.6 | $4.3 | $29.1 | +3.3% | 24.9% |
| 25 | Enterprise Bank of South Carolina | Ehrhardt, SC | $108 | $21.8 | $0.0 | $44.1 | +21.4% | 36.8% |
Source: FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026 (schedule RC-C). Dollar figures in millions. Change, 1 year compares total CRE loans with June 30, 2025. Bank names link to each bank’s FDIC record. Table shows the top 25 of 44 banks headquartered in South Carolina.
United Community Bank is the clear portfolio leader with $10.0 billion in total CRE loans, including $4.0 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans and $3.9 billion in owner occupied loans. Southern First Bank follows with $1.8 billion, while First Community Bank reports $1.1 billion and +31.9% year over year growth. Portfolio mix varies materially. Anderson Brothers Bank has $369.1 million in construction and land loans within a $905.3 million CRE book, while United Community Bank has $713.6 million in multifamily loans. OPTUS Bank shows the fastest reported growth at +71.3%, though its total CRE portfolio is $270.6 million. Concentration also differs. First Community Bank reports CRE equal to 70.5% of total loans and an investor CRE to equity ratio of 3.18x. South Atlantic Bank has a 3.85x ratio, high relative to other banks in the table, while First Piedmont Federal Savings and Loan Association of Gaffney reports 0.58x.
Out of state banks with branches in South Carolina
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in South Carolina | Deposits in South Carolina ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America, N.A. | North Carolina | 61 | $19,895 | $79,906 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | South Dakota | 102 | $18,402 | $121,623 |
| Truist Bank | North Carolina | 95 | $14,126 | $51,018 |
| First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | North Carolina | 113 | $12,482 | $38,808 |
| SouthState Bank, N.A. | Florida | 82 | $11,655 | $28,266 |
| Pinnacle Bank | Tennessee | 49 | $6,654 | $36,789 |
| TD Bank, N.A. | Delaware | 50 | $6,483 | $30,408 |
| United Bank | Virginia | 25 | $1,870 | $14,204 |
| First Bank | North Carolina | 13 | $1,381 | $5,765 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 43 | $1,358 | $179,847 |
| Regions Bank | Alabama | 18 | $1,236 | $16,257 |
| Fifth Third Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 19 | $1,164 | $33,581 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for South Carolina only; CRE loans are bank wide.
Portfolio size, growth and local relationships guide a practical loan search
A large CRE book can indicate appetite and capacity to hold commercial property loans, but size alone does not establish whether a bank will pursue a particular transaction. Borrowers should first identify banks with relevant portfolio scale, then examine the property categories in which those institutions report the greatest balances. Growth offers another useful signal because it shows which banks are adding CRE loans. A declining balance does not establish the reason for the change and should not be treated as a lending decision on its own.
Bank lending is relationship driven and local. Borrowers can use the ranking to create a focused call list, then discuss the property, requested proceeds, sponsorship and existing banking relationship directly with each institution. Concentration can signal that a bank will be selective even when it has a substantial CRE portfolio. The table should therefore serve as a screening tool rather than a forecast of approval. Comparing several institutions gives borrowers a clearer view of which balance sheets may fit the request at the time of application.
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Tell Us About Your DealHow BestCRE Capital WorksLoan mix identifies the property categories carrying the largest balances
The category columns show where each bank has accumulated its reported CRE exposure. United Community Bank combines $1.3 billion in construction and land loans, $713.6 million in multifamily loans, $3.9 billion in owner occupied loans and $4.0 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Southern First Bank reports $739.7 million in owner occupied loans and $769.8 million in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. By contrast, Anderson Brothers Bank has $369.1 million in construction and land loans, its largest reported category.
CRE share of total loans and investor CRE to equity provide different views of concentration. Southern Bank reports CRE equal to 64.0% of total loans and an investor CRE to equity ratio of 3.52x. South Atlantic Bank reports 58.8% and 3.85x, respectively. The Bank of South Carolina reports a lower 38.2% CRE share and a 1.61x ratio. Regulators watch investor CRE concentration above roughly 3x of capital, but the ratio does not show underwriting terms or availability for a specific request. It should be read with portfolio size, mix and growth.
Out of state banks and nonbank lenders broaden the comparison
Several banks headquartered elsewhere maintain substantial South Carolina branch networks. First Citizens Bank & Trust Company has 113 branches and $12.5 billion in state deposits, while Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has 102 branches and $18.4 billion. Truist Bank has 95 branches and $14.1 billion, SouthState Bank, N.A. has 82 branches and $11.7 billion, and Bank of America, N.A. has 61 branches and $19.9 billion. Their reported total CRE portfolios cover all states, so they are not directly comparable with South Carolina lending volume.
Borrowers can also compare banks with debt funds, life companies, CMBS, agency and SBA lenders. These nonbank sources do not appear in bank call reports and may evaluate transactions through different channels. A broad comparison is useful because the largest reported portfolio is not necessarily the appropriate source for every property, borrower or request. Reviewing several banks and nonbank lender types helps a borrower assess available structures while preserving the distinction between an institution’s nationwide balance sheet, its local branch presence and its reported South Carolina headquarters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many South Carolina banks report commercial real estate loans?
South Carolina has 44 headquartered banks with $22.0 billion in total commercial real estate loans as of June 30, 2026. The ranked table covers 25 of those institutions and accounts for $21.3 billion. Across the broader FDIC universe, 4,167 banks report $3.07 trillion in total CRE loans. These counts refer to bank headquarters, not every institution that can lend on property in South Carolina. Banks based in another state may have local branches and active borrower relationships, but their call reports combine CRE balances from all states.
Why does the ranked table total differ from the statewide total?
The ranked table includes 25 South Carolina headquartered banks with $21.3 billion in CRE loans. The statewide measure covers all 44 banks headquartered in South Carolina and totals $22.0 billion. The difference reflects the table’s limited number of ranked institutions. It does not represent CRE lending by every bank operating in the state because institutions headquartered elsewhere report consolidated portfolios across their full operations. BestCRE uses headquarters to define the ranking population and the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026 to identify the local presence of out of state banks.
Which South Carolina bank recorded the strongest CRE growth?
OPTUS Bank recorded +71.3% year over year growth in total CRE loans, the highest reported rate among the 25 ranked banks. Its CRE portfolio reached $270.6 million, equal to 59.3% of total loans. First Community Bank grew +31.9% to $1.1 billion, while First Capital Bank grew +31.1% to $533.5 million. Growth shows which balance sheets added CRE exposure over the reported period, but it does not identify the property, borrower or underwriting factors behind the increase. Borrowers should consider the growth rate alongside portfolio size and category mix.
What do current benchmark rates show for commercial borrowers?
As of Oct 26, 2026, the Prime rate is 7.00%, SOFR is 3.89%, the 5 year Treasury is 4.78%, the 10 year Treasury is 4.96% and Fed funds is 3.88%. These figures provide market context, but they are not quoted loan rates from the ranked banks. FDIC Call Reports do not disclose the pricing, spread, fees or terms available to a specific borrower. Actual proposals depend on the transaction and lender assessment, so borrowers need direct quotes before comparing financing sources.
Which South Carolina banks rank highest nationally by CRE loans?
United Community Bank holds national rank 54 with $10.0 billion in total CRE loans. Southern First Bank is national rank 247 with $1.8 billion, and First Community Bank is national rank 380 with $1.1 billion. Coastal States Bank follows at national rank 458 with $947.8 million, while South Atlantic Bank is national rank 477 with $908.0 million. National rank provides context for portfolio scale among FDIC reporting banks. It does not measure South Carolina market share, local production, approval probability or the suitability of a bank for a particular property.
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BestCRE rankings are editorially independent and built only from public regulatory filings; no bank pays for placement. Call report figures describe loans held on each bank’s balance sheet and do not show loan terms, rates or current appetite. BestCRE is not a lender and does not make loans. Benchmark rates are informational, not quotes. See our Legal Disclaimer and Compensation Disclosure.