Capital Bank vs First Liberty Bank

As of Q1 2026, Capital Bank carries a larger commercial real estate loan book than First Liberty Bank, roughly 1.2× the size — $446.1M versus $358.0M. CRE book size is one gauge of how much lending capacity a bank is actively deploying, though a bigger book is not automatically better for a borrower; what matters is whether the bank is still growing that book and how concentrated it has become.

Both banks are growing their CRE books quarter over quarter — Capital Bank at 2.0% and First Liberty Bank at 3.6%. A bank actively expanding its commercial real estate balance is generally still open to new originations, which is favorable for a borrower in the market today.

Neither bank has run past the 300% CRE concentration guideline — Capital Bank is at 269% and First Liberty Bank at 275%. Banks well below the guideline typically have more room to keep adding commercial real estate loans, which tends to mean more competitive pricing and terms for borrowers.

First Liberty Bank carries a higher nonaccrual CRE ratio (2% of its CRE book, versus 0% at the other). Rising nonaccruals consume management attention and provisions and often precede tighter credit standards — a useful caution flag when comparing the two as a potential lender.

County recorded documents show both lenders actively closing commercial loans — 18 recent for Capital Bank and 2 for First Liberty Bank. Capital Bank shows the heavier recent activity in the records we track. Filed deeds of trust are the ground truth of a closed, secured loan, so a presence here confirms the bank is writing business, not just quoting it.

The short version: Capital Bank runs the larger CRE book. The right lender for any specific deal still depends on property type, sponsorship, and the current terms each is quoting — the table above and each bank's full profile carry the detail.