Florida borrowers seeking construction financing can use this ranking to identify banks with substantial reported exposure to construction, land development and other land loans. The table covers banks headquartered in Florida and orders them by that lending category as of June 30, 2026. It is narrower than BestCRE’s main state ranking, which orders banks by total commercial real estate loans. Headquarters matters because FDIC Call Reports disclose each bank’s consolidated loan portfolio across its operations, not loans originated within a particular state. A Florida headquarters therefore defines inclusion, while the reported balances show the size and composition of each institution’s overall commercial real estate book.
The ranked banks hold $82.0 billion in total CRE loans, including $8.6 billion in construction and land loans, $13.0 billion in multifamily loans, $18.4 billion in owner occupied loans and $42.0 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Across all 79 banks headquartered in Florida, total CRE loans were $99.2 billion, up +8.0% from a year earlier. The top five accounted for 63.3% of that total. For context, FDIC Call Reports covered 4,167 banks with $3.07 trillion in total CRE loans. These figures describe balance sheet exposure and portfolio mix. They do not establish whether a bank is currently quoting a particular project or borrower.
Florida banks ranked by construction and land loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SouthState Bank, N.A. | Winter Haven, FL | $28,266 | $2,928 | $2,717 | $7,848 | +6.9% | 55.2% |
| 2 | City National Bank of Florida | Miami, FL | $10,897 | $1,643 | $1,453 | $1,742 | +2.7% | 52.9% |
| 3 | Seacoast National Bank | Stuart, FL | $7,004 | $858 | $481 | $2,053 | +20.5% | 53.2% |
| 4 | BankUnited, N.A. | Miami Lakes, FL | $8,629 | $613 | $1,136 | $1,753 | +6.3% | 36.1% |
| 5 | Amerant Bank, N.A. | Coral Gables, FL | $3,128 | $536 | $257 | $745 | -14.8% | 45.6% |
| 6 | Ocean Bank | Miami, FL | $5,191 | $317 | $877 | $780 | +10.9% | 83.5% |
| 7 | Capital City Bank | Tallahassee, FL | $921 | $245 | $45.6 | $340 | -6.7% | 36.3% |
| 8 | Emigrant Bank | Miami, FL | $1,218 | $225 | $535 | $0.0 | -13.8% | 30.6% |
| 9 | Banesco USA | Miami, FL | $1,782 | $162 | $188 | $353 | +5.9% | 45.0% |
| 10 | Climate First Bank | Saint Petersburg, FL | $673 | $136 | $28.5 | $165 | +70.3% | 40.1% |
| 11 | Pacific National Bank | Miami, FL | $713 | $114 | $68.4 | $78.9 | +11.5% | 73.1% |
| 12 | Banco do Brasil Americas | Miami, FL | $473 | $112 | $12.2 | $44.8 | +36.4% | 21.6% |
| 13 | EverBank, N.A. | Jacksonville, FL | $7,983 | $110 | $4,856 | $311 | +9.7% | 21.5% |
| 14 | Newtek Bank, N.A. | Miami, FL | $1,040 | $106 | $155 | $569 | +90.5% | 50.7% |
| 15 | Cogent Bank | Orlando, FL | $724 | $101 | $28.7 | $300 | +7.4% | 39.6% |
| 16 | Bank of Central Florida | Lakeland, FL | $511 | $98.0 | $22.4 | $163 | +9.8% | 60.6% |
| 17 | The Bank of Tampa | Tampa, FL | $1,126 | $94.6 | $76.0 | $556 | +11.1% | 54.2% |
| 18 | Mainstreet Community Bank of Florida | Deland, FL | $479 | $87.6 | $17.1 | $214 | +33.3% | 65.4% |
| 19 | One Florida Bank | ORLANDO, FL | $955 | $84.1 | $22.3 | $297 | +8.3% | 56.9% |
| 20 | Sanibel Captiva Community Bank | Sanibel, FL | $338 | $69.9 | $4.6 | $131 | -0.4% | 40.5% |
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 20 of 76 banks headquartered in Florida that hold this loan type.
SouthState Bank, N.A. leads with $2.9 billion in construction and land loans and $28.3 billion in total CRE loans. City National Bank of Florida follows at $1.6 billion, while Seacoast National Bank reports $858.2 million and +20.5% CRE growth. Portfolio mixes differ materially. EverBank, N.A. holds $4.9 billion in multifamily loans but only $110.0 million in construction and land loans. Ocean Bank reports an 83.5% CRE share of loans and a 6.01x investor CRE to equity ratio, both high relative to the other banks in the table. Growth also varies. Newtek Bank, N.A. reports +90.5%, Climate First Bank reports +70.3%, and Amerant Bank, N.A. reports -14.8%. The ranking therefore identifies construction and land balance leaders, while the accompanying columns show broader CRE scale, recent direction and concentration.
Out of state banks with branches in Florida
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in Florida | Deposits in Florida ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America, N.A. | North Carolina | 414 | $170,340 | $79,906 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | South Dakota | 458 | $90,649 | $121,623 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 431 | $79,038 | $179,847 |
| Truist Bank | North Carolina | 441 | $74,511 | $51,018 |
| Regions Bank | Alabama | 270 | $26,368 | $16,257 |
| Citibank, N.A. | South Dakota | 56 | $22,349 | $26,036 |
| PNC Bank, N.A. | Delaware | 196 | $21,032 | $47,133 |
| TD Bank, N.A. | Delaware | 159 | $20,510 | $30,408 |
| Fifth Third Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 218 | $19,346 | $33,581 |
| Pinnacle Bank | Tennessee | 85 | $12,231 | $36,789 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for Florida only; CRE loans are bank wide.
The ranking is a starting point for a construction loan search
A large construction and land balance can indicate demonstrated appetite for the category and greater capacity to hold loans, but it does not confirm availability for a particular request. Borrowers should compare that balance with the bank’s total CRE book, property mix, recent growth and headquarters. SouthState Bank, N.A., for example, combines $2.9 billion in construction and land loans with $28.3 billion in total CRE loans. Capital City Bank has a smaller $920.5 million CRE book, with $245.5 million in construction and land loans.
Bank lending is relationship driven and local. Borrowers can use the ranking to build a call list, then ask each institution whether the project fits its current credit parameters. The size of the CRE book helps indicate appetite and hold capacity. The mix identifies the categories in which reported balances are largest. Year over year change shows which banks are adding or reducing CRE loans, while concentration can indicate that a bank may be selective. Actual fit still depends on the property, location, borrower and requested structure, none of which appears in Call Reports.
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Construction lending is only one part of each bank’s CRE portfolio. City National Bank of Florida reports $1.6 billion in construction and land loans, $1.5 billion in multifamily loans and $6.1 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. BankUnited, N.A. reports $612.7 million in construction and land loans, compared with $1.1 billion in multifamily and $5.1 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. These differences show where reported balances are concentrated without establishing future origination priorities.
The CRE share of loans and investor CRE to equity ratio add context about concentration. Ocean Bank’s CRE share is 83.5%, and its investor CRE to equity ratio is 6.01x, high relative to the table. Capital City Bank reports a 36.3% CRE share and a 1.10x ratio, both lower by comparison. A concentrated bank can still be an active lender, but concentration may contribute to selectivity. Borrowers should read these measures alongside growth: Mainstreet Community Bank of Florida reports +33.3% CRE growth, while Emigrant Bank reports -13.8%.
Florida borrowers also have out of state and nonbank options
This table excludes banks headquartered elsewhere, even when they maintain substantial Florida branch networks. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., headquartered in South Dakota, has 458 branches in the state, $90.6 billion in Florida deposits and $121.6 billion in total CRE loans across all states. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., headquartered in Ohio, has 431 Florida branches, $79.0 billion in state deposits and $179.8 billion in total CRE loans across all states. Bank of America, N.A., headquartered in North Carolina, has 414 branches, $170.3 billion in state deposits and $79.9 billion in total CRE loans across all states.
Borrowers may also compare debt funds, life companies, CMBS, agency and SBA lenders. These nonbank sources do not appear in bank Call Reports, and their presence means a bank ranking is not a complete list of financing channels. Comparing several sources helps a borrower assess fit across different lender types while avoiding reliance on one reported balance sheet. Local branches can make an out of state bank relevant to a Florida project, while nonbank lenders can serve transactions outside a bank’s current appetite. The table is best used to identify informed conversations, not to substitute for direct lender screening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What loans are included in construction and land lending?
The category covers construction, land development and other land loans reported on schedule RC-C of the FDIC Call Reports. It is one segment of commercial real estate lending rather than a measure of every loan secured by property. SouthState Bank, N.A. reports $2.9 billion in this category, compared with $28.3 billion in total CRE loans. The difference includes its reported multifamily, owner occupied and investor nonfarm nonresidential balances. Because the ranking uses outstanding balances, it reflects loans held as of June 30, 2026 rather than commitments, applications or new originations during the period.
Where do the Florida bank figures come from?
BestCRE uses FDIC Call Reports, formally called Reports of Condition and Income, including schedule RC-C, together with the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Call Reports supply consolidated bank loan balances and related capital measures as of June 30, 2026. The Summary of Deposits identifies branch and deposit presence for banks headquartered outside Florida. The broader comparison includes 4,167 banks reporting $3.07 trillion in total CRE loans. These regulatory sources support consistent comparisons across institutions, but they do not disclose project level underwriting, current quotes, pending applications or whether a reported loan was originated in Florida.
Do rising CRE balances mean a bank is making new construction loans?
Not necessarily. Year over year CRE change describes movement in the total reported CRE portfolio, not construction originations alone. Seacoast National Bank reports +20.5% CRE growth and $858.2 million in construction and land loans. Newtek Bank, N.A. reports +90.5% growth and $105.5 million in that category. Amerant Bank, N.A. reports -14.8% CRE change while holding $535.9 million in construction and land loans. Portfolio balances can therefore help identify direction and scale, but borrowers must contact each bank to determine whether it is accepting and funding loans that match a specific request.
How should borrowers interpret the benchmark rates shown on the page?
The benchmark panel provides market context as of Oct 26, 2026. It shows the Prime rate at 7.00%, SOFR at 3.89%, the 5 year Treasury at 4.78%, the 10 year Treasury at 4.96% and Fed funds at 3.88%. These are reference rates, not construction loan quotes from the ranked banks. A bank’s reported construction balance does not disclose its pricing method, spread, fees or terms. Borrowers should treat the benchmarks as a dated reference point and obtain current, transaction specific information directly from potential financing sources.
Does a larger reported balance mean a bank will approve my project?
No. A reported balance measures loans already held, not approval probability or unused lending capacity. City National Bank of Florida has $1.6 billion in construction and land loans, while Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has $69.9 million. That size difference can help borrowers distinguish institutions by existing category exposure, but it says nothing about a particular project’s eligibility. Call Reports do not show applications, declined requests, pipeline volume or property level underwriting. Borrowers should use the ranking to identify relevant institutions and then confirm current interest, geographic coverage and project fit directly with each prospective lender.
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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.
