Georgia SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Georgia
Since FY2020, 294 lenders have funded 11,126 SBA loans worth $9.1B for businesses in Georgia. Borrowers reported 126,454 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Georgia businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Georgia
Ranked by loans funded for Georgia projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Georgia beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | GA loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 724 | 216 | $291K | 10% |
| Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 7(a) | 617 | 83 | $15K | 10.5% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 409 | 150 | $150K | 11.25% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 387 | 233 | $175K | 11.25% |
| Florida Business Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 369 | 94 | $770K | n/a |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 341 | 140 | $800K | 8.25% |
| Metro City Bank | 7(a) | 320 | 41 | $1.7M | 5.75% |
| Capital Partners Certified Development Company | 504 (CDC) | 298 | 87 | $947K | n/a |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 297 | 79 | $150K | 9.5% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 293 | 67 | $150K | 12% |
| SouthState Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 291 | 49 | $370K | 9.75% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 234 | 131 | $80K | 10.75% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 217 | 81 | $150K | 10.25% |
| Small Business Access Partners, Inc. | 504 (CDC) | 213 | 51 | $733K | n/a |
| Renasant Bank | 7(a) | 205 | 36 | $560K | 6.5% |
| United Community Bank | 7(a) | 196 | 53 | $528K | 8.75% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 193 | 51 | $150K | 10.9% |
| Georgia's Own Credit Union | 7(a) | 177 | 14 | $675K | 6.75% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 7(a) | 171 | 29 | $727K | 6.75% |
| Bank of America, National Association | 7(a) | 142 | 27 | $300K | 6.42% |
| Citizens Bank | 7(a) | 140 | 37 | $500K | 8.75% |
| HomeTrust Bank | 7(a) | 131 | 12 | $993K | 5.25% |
| PromiseOne Bank | 7(a) | 130 | 35 | $700K | 7.12% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 7(a) | 123 | 92 | $150K | 12% |
| Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. | 7(a) | 112 | 0 | $300K | 6.25% |
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 Georgia SBA loans run
Share of Georgia 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 | GA | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 23.5% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 35.7% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 17.9% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 22.9% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Georgia
Business age on Georgia 7(a) loans. 13.4% 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 | GA | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 45.1% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 17.5% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 24% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 13.4% | 11.1% |
Industries Georgia SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Georgia SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | GA loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 1,935 | 17.4% | 1.4x the national share |
| Retail | 1,634 | 14.7% | 1.2x the national share |
| Healthcare | 1,233 | 11.1% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 1,082 | 9.7% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 982 | 8.8% | in line with national |
| Construction | 854 | 7.7% | 0.6x the national share |
| Business support services | 635 | 5.7% | in line with national |
| Manufacturing | 538 | 4.8% | 0.7x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in Georgia: full-service restaurants (658), limited-service restaurants (538), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (408), gasoline stations with convenience stores (291), fitness and recreational sports centers (228), child care services (227).
Where in Georgia the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton | 1,828 | 16% |
| Gwinnett | 1,492 | 13% |
| Cobb | 1,081 | 10% |
| Dekalb | 884 | 8% |
| Forsyth | 404 | 4% |
| Cherokee | 381 | 3% |
| Chatham | 357 | 3% |
| Henry | 269 | 2% |
7(a) or 504 in Georgia
11% of Georgia SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $816K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Georgia:
- Florida Business Development Corporation: 367 504 loans, median $773K
- Capital Partners Certified Development Company: 298 504 loans, median $947K
- Small Business Access Partners, Inc.: 213 504 loans, median $733K
- Georgia Certified Development Corporation: 90 504 loans, median $874K
- CSRA Local Development Corporation: 82 504 loans, median $639K
Georgia SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 1,082 | 151 | $1.0B |
| FY2021 | 1,510 | 187 | $1.7B |
| FY2022 | 1,233 | 189 | $1.3B |
| FY2023 | 1,498 | 172 | $1.2B |
| FY2024 | 1,763 | 181 | $1.4B |
| FY2025 | 1,865 | 178 | $1.6B |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 979 | 138 | $940M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Georgia?
By funded loans since FY2020, The Huntington National Bank leads Georgia with 724 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Georgia?
The median 7(a) loan in Georgia is $350K, and the middle half runs from $150K to $900K. The median 504 loan is $816K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Georgia SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Georgia 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9.25%, against 9.25% nationally. 93% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Georgia?
Yes. 42% of Georgia 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 Georgia. 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.