Colorado SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Colorado
Since FY2020, 272 lenders have funded 10,161 SBA loans worth $6.7B for businesses in Colorado. Borrowers reported 104,808 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Colorado businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Colorado
Ranked by loans funded for Colorado projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Colorado beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | CO loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 1,062 | 368 | $145K | 10% |
| B:Side Capital | 504 (CDC) | 815 | 176 | $537K | n/a |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 756 | 276 | $38K | 8.74% |
| Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 7(a) | 515 | 75 | $15K | 8.75% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 452 | 143 | $800K | 8% |
| KeyBank National Association | 7(a) | 330 | 75 | $50K | 9.49% |
| Hanmi Bank | 7(a) | 280 | 79 | $679K | 8.25% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 265 | 89 | $205K | 10% |
| Zions Bank | 7(a) | 248 | 146 | $111K | 9.5% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 245 | 102 | $170K | 11.25% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 238 | 151 | $200K | 11% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 226 | 54 | $150K | 12.25% |
| SouthState Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 177 | 31 | $585K | 5.75% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 154 | 99 | $106K | 10.75% |
| BMO Bank National Association | 7(a) | 151 | 6 | $350K | 6% |
| Preferred Lending Partners | 504 (CDC) | 145 | 13 | $619K | n/a |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 138 | 55 | $150K | 10.12% |
| Mountain West Small Business Finance | 504 (CDC) | 130 | 60 | $841K | n/a |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 129 | 37 | $150K | 9.75% |
| Community Banks of Colorado, A Division of NBH Bank | 7(a) | 129 | 35 | $545K | 7.25% |
| First Southwest Bank | 7(a) | 119 | 5 | $150K | 5% |
| Busey Bank | 7(a) | 118 | 12 | $704K | 6.5% |
| Colorado Enterprise Fund | 7(a) | 107 | 60 | $150K | 9.99% |
| Bank of Hope | 7(a) | 106 | 46 | $632K | 8.75% |
| Integrity Bank & Trust | 7(a) | 103 | 38 | $200K | 9.5% |
504 loans are written by Certified Development Companies alongside a bank first mortgage. The 504 file reports no interest rate, so CDC rows show none.
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Start your funding profile →How big Colorado SBA loans run
Share of Colorado 7(a) loans by approval size, next to the national split. If your ask sits in a common band, it is the kind of loan lenders here fund every week.
| 7(a) loan size | CO | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 32.8% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 32.2% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 16.2% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 18.9% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Colorado
Business age on Colorado 7(a) loans. 16.3% funded a change of ownership, against 11.1% nationally. Buying a business? See the acquisition lender shortlist. Starting one? See startup-friendly lenders.
| Business stage | CO | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 47.3% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 18.5% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 17.9% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 16.3% | 11.1% |
Industries Colorado SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Colorado SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | CO loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 1,518 | 14.9% | 1.2x the national share |
| Retail | 1,336 | 13.1% | in line with national |
| Restaurants and hotels | 1,281 | 12.6% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 1,131 | 11.1% | 1.2x the national share |
| Professional services | 1,055 | 10.4% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 968 | 9.5% | in line with national |
| Manufacturing | 616 | 6.1% | in line with national |
| Business support services | 497 | 4.9% | in line with national |
The most common specific business types funded in Colorado: full-service restaurants (461), limited-service restaurants (278), beer, wine, and liquor retailers (263), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (214), fitness and recreational sports centers (214), plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors (209).
Where in Colorado the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | 1,466 | 14% |
| Arapahoe | 1,294 | 13% |
| El Paso | 1,208 | 12% |
| Jefferson | 1,146 | 11% |
| Adams | 764 | 8% |
| Douglas | 671 | 7% |
| Larimer | 665 | 7% |
| Boulder | 660 | 6% |
7(a) or 504 in Colorado
12% of Colorado SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $590K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Colorado:
- B:Side Capital: 797 504 loans, median $548K
- Preferred Lending Partners: 145 504 loans, median $619K
- Mountain West Small Business Finance: 125 504 loans, median $943K
- Pikes Peak Regional Development Corporation: 92 504 loans, median $556K
- Community Economic Development Company of Colorado: 17 504 loans, median $872K
Colorado SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 958 | 162 | $737M |
| FY2021 | 1,266 | 266 | $1.2B |
| FY2022 | 1,010 | 199 | $902M |
| FY2023 | 1,296 | 132 | $903M |
| FY2024 | 1,638 | 148 | $1.0B |
| FY2025 | 1,881 | 161 | $1.2B |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 929 | 115 | $668M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Colorado?
By funded loans since FY2020, The Huntington National Bank leads Colorado with 1,062 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Colorado?
The median 7(a) loan in Colorado is $284K, and the middle half runs from $90K to $724K. The median 504 loan is $590K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Colorado SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Colorado 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9%, against 9.25% nationally. 83% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Colorado?
Yes. 36% of Colorado 7(a) loans with a reported business age went to startups or businesses two years old or younger, against 34% nationally. Lenders still expect a solid plan, owner equity and usually collateral.
Sources and limits. Derived from U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level records, FY2020 through June 30, 2026, for projects located in Colorado. Cancelled approvals are excluded. Jobs supported are as reported by borrowers. Figures describe past lending activity only and are not offers, quotes, or qualification decisions. Big Brain Funding is not a lender and is not affiliated with any lender listed.