North Carolina’s construction lending market is led by three large banks headquartered in the state. Bank of America, N.A. reported $9.7 billion in construction and land loans, followed by Truist Bank at $7.6 billion and First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company at $7.3 billion. The ranked banks collectively held $29.0 billion in this category as of June 30, 2026. BestCRE ranks institutions by construction, land development and other land loans reported on schedule RC-C of the FDIC Call Reports. The main North Carolina bank page uses total commercial real estate loans instead, so its ordering can differ from this construction focused ranking.
The table includes banks headquartered in North Carolina and should be read as a measure of reported lending scale, portfolio mix, growth and concentration. It does not establish whether a bank is originating a particular property type or accepting a specific transaction. Bank lending is relationship driven and local, so borrowers should use the ranking to identify institutions for further discussion rather than treat position as an approval signal. The FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026 also identifies out of state banks with North Carolina branches. Those institutions are discussed separately because their Call Reports show loans across all states, not lending confined to North Carolina.
North Carolina banks ranked by construction and land loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of America, N.A. | Charlotte, NC | $79,906 | $9,681 | $8,465 | $24,700 | +6.1% | 6.6% |
| 2 | Truist Bank | Charlotte, NC | $51,018 | $7,610 | $8,652 | $17,780 | +4.9% | 15.4% |
| 3 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | Raleigh, NC | $38,808 | $7,338 | $2,967 | $16,840 | +0.9% | 25.7% |
| 4 | Live Oak Banking Company | Wilmington, NC | $6,163 | $970 | $26.2 | $3,037 | +17.3% | 46.9% |
| 5 | First Bank | Southern Pines, NC | $5,765 | $848 | $619 | $1,358 | +12.7% | 64.0% |
| 6 | The Fidelity Bank | Fuquay Varina, NC | $2,139 | $474 | $84.9 | $958 | +5.7% | 73.1% |
| 7 | HomeTrust Bank | Asheville, NC | $1,922 | $374 | $131 | $528 | +2.9% | 51.4% |
| 8 | First Carolina Bank | Rocky Mount, NC | $2,071 | $325 | $433 | $271 | -1.7% | 75.5% |
| 9 | Providence Bank | Rocky Mount, NC | $987 | $209 | $107 | $237 | +9.4% | 78.3% |
| 10 | Southern Bank and Trust Company | Mount Olive, NC | $1,818 | $197 | $121 | $919 | +10.2% | 50.4% |
| 11 | Farmers & Merchants Bank | Granite Quarry, NC | $395 | $166 | $9.8 | $61.9 | +2.1% | 73.1% |
| 12 | KS Bank, Inc. | Smithfield, NC | $484 | $159 | $13.5 | $144 | +23.8% | 67.2% |
| 13 | Peoples Bank | Newton, NC | $731 | $134 | $46.0 | $267 | +11.3% | 57.1% |
| 14 | North State Bank | Raleigh, NC | $649 | $127 | $56.3 | $287 | -0.3% | 55.8% |
| 15 | Piedmont Federal Savings Bank | Winston Salem, NC | $328 | $90.5 | $33.8 | $96.3 | +31.7% | 35.7% |
| 16 | Uwharrie Bank | Albemarle, NC | $338 | $84.6 | $9.4 | $114 | +2.7% | 48.2% |
| 17 | BlueHarbor Bank | Mooresville, NC | $295 | $67.2 | $9.1 | $81.2 | +17.6% | 55.0% |
| 18 | Triad Business Bank | Greensboro, NC | $274 | $51.2 | $7.2 | $111 | -1.3% | 66.7% |
| 19 | Bank of Oak Ridge | Oak Ridge, NC | $353 | $34.0 | $30.3 | $154 | -3.7% | 67.5% |
| 20 | Taylorsville Savings Bank, SSB | Taylorsville, NC | $35.8 | $25.7 | $0.0 | $3.0 | +23.5% | 19.8% |
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 20 of 37 banks headquartered in North Carolina that hold this loan type.
The first three banks account for the largest construction and land portfolios in the table. Bank of America, N.A. leads with $9.7 billion, ahead of Truist Bank at $7.6 billion and First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company at $7.3 billion. Their broader CRE books differ in mix. Bank of America reports $37.1 billion of investor nonfarm nonresidential loans, while Truist reports $8.7 billion of multifamily loans and First-Citizens reports $16.8 billion of owner occupied loans. Among other banks, Live Oak Banking Company has $969.7 million in construction and land loans and CRE growth of +17.3%. KS Bank, Inc. reports +23.8%, while Piedmont Federal Savings Bank reports +31.7%. Concentration also varies. Bank of America reports investor CRE to equity of 0.23x, compared with 4.62x at KS Bank, Inc. and 4.02x at Providence Bank, both high relative to other banks in the table.
Out of state banks with branches in North Carolina
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in North Carolina | Deposits in North Carolina ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | South Dakota | 217 | $50,972 | $121,623 |
| PNC Bank, N.A. | Delaware | 100 | $13,209 | $47,133 |
| First National Bank of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 95 | $8,848 | $12,016 |
| Fifth Third Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 87 | $7,754 | $33,581 |
| Pinnacle Bank | Tennessee | 44 | $7,698 | $36,789 |
| Banc of California | California | 1 | $7,086 | $11,904 |
| First Horizon Bank | Tennessee | 78 | $6,763 | $22,518 |
| TowneBank | Virginia | 24 | $5,251 | $8,969 |
| United Community Bank | South Carolina | 37 | $3,668 | $9,988 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 61 | $2,948 | $179,847 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for North Carolina only; CRE loans are bank wide.
Portfolio scale and recent growth help narrow a loan search
A larger CRE book can indicate greater appetite and hold capacity, while the construction and land balance shows the scale of the category being ranked. Borrowers can begin with banks whose reported portfolios fit the size and property context of a proposed transaction. Bank of America, N.A. has $79.9 billion in total CRE loans and $9.7 billion in construction and land loans. First Bank has $5.8 billion in total CRE loans and $847.9 million in the ranked category. Both may merit consideration, but the figures describe different portfolio scales rather than specific credit decisions.
Growth provides another screening measure because it identifies banks that are adding or reducing total CRE loans. Live Oak Banking Company reported +17.3% year over year CRE growth, First Bank reported +12.7%, and Southern Bank and Trust Company reported +10.2%. First Carolina Bank reported -1.7%, while Bank of Oak Ridge reported -3.7%. Borrowers should combine growth with portfolio size, mix and local relationships, then contact several banks to confirm current interest. Reported balances do not show whether an institution will pursue an individual request.
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Construction and land lending is only one part of a CRE portfolio. The table also separates multifamily, owner occupied and investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Truist Bank reports $8.7 billion in multifamily loans, $17.8 billion in owner occupied loans and $17.0 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company reports $3.0 billion, $16.8 billion and $11.7 billion in those categories, respectively. These differences help borrowers see where reported balances are concentrated, although they do not describe current programs or underwriting terms.
CRE share of loans and investor CRE to equity provide additional context. First Bank reports a 64.0% CRE share of loans and investor CRE to equity of 2.48x. The Fidelity Bank reports 73.1% and 2.52x, while First Carolina Bank reports 75.5% and 3.95x. A high concentration relative to other banks in the table can signal that an institution may be selective, even when it has a meaningful construction portfolio. A lower ratio does not establish that credit is available. Borrowers should read concentration alongside scale, mix and growth rather than use it alone.
Out of state banks and nonbank lenders expand the comparison
Banks headquartered elsewhere also serve North Carolina through local branches, but their Call Reports combine lending across all states. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., headquartered in South Dakota, has 217 North Carolina branches and $51.0 billion of deposits in the state, while reporting $121.6 billion in total CRE loans across all states. PNC Bank, N.A. has 100 branches, $13.2 billion of state deposits and $47.1 billion in total CRE loans across all states. First National Bank of Pennsylvania has 95 branches, $8.8 billion of state deposits and $12.0 billion in total CRE loans across all states.
Borrowers can also compare banks with debt funds, life companies, CMBS, agency and SBA lenders. These nonbank lender types do not appear in bank Call Reports, so this ranking is not a complete list of potential capital sources. Different sources may fit different property types, transaction structures or borrower circumstances, but the reported data does not establish which source will offer suitable terms. Comparing several banks and nonbank sources gives borrowers a broader view of available channels. Current conversations remain necessary because portfolio balances as of June 30, 2026 do not show later origination decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina bank has the largest construction and land loan portfolio?
Bank of America, N.A. ranks first among banks headquartered in North Carolina, with $9.7 billion in construction, land development and other land loans as of June 30, 2026. It also reports $79.9 billion in total CRE loans and holds national rank 3 by total CRE loans. Truist Bank is next in the state construction ranking with $7.6 billion, followed by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company with $7.3 billion. Ranking first indicates the largest reported balance in this loan category, not confirmed availability for a particular project.
How is the North Carolina construction lender ranking calculated?
BestCRE orders banks headquartered in North Carolina by their reported construction, land development and other land loan balances. The figures come from FDIC Call Reports, formally the Reports of Condition and Income, schedule RC-C, as of June 30, 2026. The table contains 20 banks and represents $29.0 billion in construction and land loans. The FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026 is used to distinguish banks headquartered in the state from out of state institutions operating local branches. The ranking does not use quoted rates, proposed terms or unreported originations.
Which ranked bank recorded the strongest CRE growth?
Piedmont Federal Savings Bank reported the highest year over year CRE growth among the ranked banks at +31.7%. Its total CRE portfolio was $327.7 million, including $90.5 million in construction and land loans. KS Bank, Inc. reported +23.8% growth, while Taylorsville Savings Bank, SSB reported +23.5%. Growth measures the change in each bank’s total CRE loans, not only construction and land lending. It can help identify banks adding CRE balances, but it does not show which loans drove the change or whether current credit is available.
Why does the construction ranking differ from the main North Carolina bank ranking?
This page ranks banks by construction, land development and other land loans, while the main state page ranks them by total CRE loans. The categories can produce different ordering because each bank has a distinct portfolio mix. Farmers & Merchants Bank, for example, reports $395.2 million in total CRE loans and $165.6 million in construction and land loans. Bank of Oak Ridge reports a larger total CRE portfolio of $352.5 million but a smaller construction and land balance of $34.0 million. Borrowers should select the ranking that matches the type of lending scale they want to examine.
What interest rate benchmarks should construction borrowers monitor?
Common market benchmarks provide context for lender discussions, although they are not quoted bank loan rates. As of Oct 26, 2026, the Prime rate was 7.00%, SOFR was 3.89%, the 5 year Treasury was 4.78%, the 10 year Treasury was 4.96%, and Fed funds was 3.88%. A bank’s reported construction and land balance does not reveal its pricing, spread, fees or rate structure. Borrowers should ask each potential source for current terms and compare the complete economics of any proposal rather than infer pricing from a bank’s rank or portfolio size.
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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.
