Delaware SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Delaware
Since FY2020, 92 lenders have funded 1,147 SBA loans worth $465M for businesses in Delaware. Borrowers reported 10,075 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Delaware businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Delaware
Ranked by loans funded for Delaware projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Delaware beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | DE loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 7(a) | 395 | 164 | $50K | 10.25% |
| TD Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 126 | 16 | $27K | 10.52% |
| Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB | 7(a) | 75 | 27 | $430K | 9% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 43 | 15 | $200K | 10.25% |
| PNC Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 39 | 8 | $50K | 9.25% |
| Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 7(a) | 36 | 4 | $15K | 9.88% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 34 | 16 | $75K | 10.75% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 26 | 8 | $600K | 7.7% |
| Fulton Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 25 | 7 | $627K | 9.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 24 | 8 | $150K | 12.25% |
| Beacon Bank and Trust | 7(a) | 21 | 6 | $910K | 7.5% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 21 | 7 | $120K | 10.5% |
| Grow America Fund, Incorporated | 7(a) | 20 | 2 | $482K | 5.72% |
| Delaware Community Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 20 | 6 | $634K | n/a |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 18 | 9 | $263K | 11.12% |
| True Access Capital Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 15 | 3 | $322K | n/a |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 14 | 3 | $220K | 9% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 14 | 4 | $150K | 10.12% |
| Meridian Bank | 7(a) | 14 | 2 | $380K | 10% |
| First Financial Bank | 7(a) | 9 | 0 | $150K | 6.85% |
| Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. | 7(a) | 7 | 0 | $419K | 6.25% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 7(a) | 7 | 4 | $150K | 12.25% |
| Univest Bank and Trust Co | 7(a) | 6 | 2 | $425K | 10.62% |
| Stearns Bank National Association | 7(a) | 5 | 2 | $135K | 10% |
| KeyBank National Association | 7(a) | 5 | 1 | $40K | 7% |
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 Delaware SBA loans run
Share of Delaware 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 | DE | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 53.9% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 26.3% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 9.8% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 10.1% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Delaware
Business age on Delaware 7(a) loans. 9.1% 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 | DE | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 51.2% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 21.1% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 18.6% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 9.1% | 11.1% |
Industries Delaware SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Delaware SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | DE loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | 156 | 13.6% | in line with national |
| Construction | 149 | 13% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 130 | 11.3% | 1.2x the national share |
| Personal and repair services | 121 | 10.5% | in line with national |
| Restaurants and hotels | 114 | 9.9% | 0.8x the national share |
| Business support services | 89 | 7.8% | 1.4x the national share |
| Healthcare | 79 | 6.9% | 0.7x the national share |
| Transportation and trucking | 62 | 5.4% | in line with national |
The most common specific business types funded in Delaware: full-service restaurants (48), limited-service restaurants (40), landscaping services (33), residential remodelers (30), fitness and recreational sports centers (25), general automotive repair (23).
Where in Delaware the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| New Castle | 667 | 58% |
| Sussex | 297 | 26% |
| Kent | 183 | 16% |
7(a) or 504 in Delaware
3% of Delaware SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $790K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Delaware:
- Delaware Community Development Corporation: 20 504 loans, median $634K
Delaware SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 115 | 7 | $58M |
| FY2021 | 111 | 4 | $55M |
| FY2022 | 136 | 4 | $51M |
| FY2023 | 181 | 3 | $74M |
| FY2024 | 213 | 5 | $88M |
| FY2025 | 223 | 6 | $79M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 137 | 2 | $59M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Free SBA help in Delaware
Before you apply, these offices help with loan packaging and lender questions at no cost.
- SBA Delaware District Office. 1105 Market St., Suite 401, Wilmington, DE 19801. Phone 302-573-6294. The SBA office for Delaware: lender lists, program questions and local events.
- Delaware Small Business Development Center. No-cost one-on-one consulting and training, a unit of the University of Delaware Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships. Useful for loan packaging, projections and cash-flow prep before you apply.
- SCORE Delaware. Free mentoring from volunteer business owners and executives, one chapter serving the whole state.
Contact details verified October 24, 2026.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Delaware?
By funded loans since FY2020, Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company leads Delaware with 395 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Delaware?
The median 7(a) loan in Delaware is $100K, and the middle half runs from $30K to $350K. The median 504 loan is $790K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Delaware SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Delaware 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 10%, against 9.25% nationally. 91% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Delaware?
Yes. 40% of Delaware 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 Delaware. 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.