The honest acquisition shortlist
SBA lenders for buying an existing business
The public SBA FOIA file does not identify whether a loan funded a business acquisition. That means it cannot support a true acquisition-volume ranking by lender. This page gives you a defensible starting list without pretending the missing field exists.
High-volume starting points for an acquisition search
These lenders each recorded at least 500 recent 7(a) approvals, a median 7(a) approval of at least $100,000, and enough disbursement observations to report funding speed. This is a capacity screen, not an acquisition ranking.
| Lender | Recent 7(a) loans | Median loan | Middle 80% | Post-approval funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Bank | 10,463 | $103K | $30K to $337K | 20 days |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 8,670 | $200K | $50K to $800K | 21 days |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 4,304 | $150K | $25K to $1.0M | 21 days |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 3,844 | $785K | $165K to $3.7M | 17 days |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 2,614 | $185K | $35K to $500K | 15 days |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 2,427 | $150K | $60K to $2.0M | 10 days |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 2,425 | $150K | $52K to $350K | 10 days |
| Zions Bank, A Division of | 1,917 | $135K | $25K to $742K | 9 days |
| BayFirst National Bank | 1,915 | $150K | $74K to $292K | 5 days |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 1,598 | $150K | $125K to $762K | 17 days |
| Bank of America, National Association | 1,219 | $332K | $100K to $1.1M | 15 days |
| CenTrust Bank, A Division of SmartBiz Bank National Association | 1,140 | $150K | $105K to $350K | 7 days |
| KeyBank National Association | 1,124 | $100K | $20K to $965K | 15 days |
| First Bank of the Lake | 988 | $373K | $150K to $2.4M | 16 days |
| Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC | 805 | $770K | $306K to $2.3M | 18 days |
Five questions to ask before sending the deal
- How many change-of-ownership loans has your team closed in the last 12 months?
- Does my industry fall inside your current credit appetite?
- What debt-service coverage and equity injection do you require for this deal?
- How do you treat seller financing, working capital, and closing costs?
- Who underwrites the file, and what normally kills a deal after initial screening?
Why loan size and industry fit matter
Acquisition financing is not just a purchase price. The structure can include working capital, closing costs, equipment, and real estate. A lender that regularly approves your size and industry is usually a stronger first conversation than a larger bank with little relevant activity.
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Start your funding profile →Methodology and sources
We screened recent 7(a) lender volume, median approval size, 10th to 90th percentile approval range, and the median gap from approval to first disbursement. We did not label any loan an acquisition because the federal FOIA file does not provide a loan-purpose or change-of-ownership field.
- SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA dataset and data dictionary, data as of 2026-06-30
- SBA SOP 50 10 lender policy
- Data retrieved and lender identities verified 2026-08-08
Not a lender or broker of record. This shortlist is educational and is not a recommendation, approval, or offer. Verify current requirements with each lender and your advisers.