New Jersey SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in New Jersey
Since FY2020, 218 lenders have funded 11,870 SBA loans worth $6.3B for businesses in New Jersey. Borrowers reported 108,342 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which New Jersey businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in New Jersey
Ranked by loans funded for New Jersey projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in New Jersey beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
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 New Jersey SBA loans run
Share of New Jersey 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 | NJ | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 44.1% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 30% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 12.3% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 13.6% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in New Jersey
Business age on New Jersey 7(a) loans. 7.8% 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 | NJ | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 60.6% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 18.4% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 13.3% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 7.8% | 11.1% |
Industries New Jersey SBA lenders fund most
Share of all New Jersey SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | NJ loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | 1,545 | 13% | in line with national |
| Construction | 1,480 | 12.5% | in line with national |
| Restaurants and hotels | 1,362 | 11.5% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 1,178 | 9.9% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 1,141 | 9.6% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 1,069 | 9% | in line with national |
| Transportation and trucking | 791 | 6.7% | 1.2x the national share |
| Wholesale trade | 774 | 6.5% | 1.5x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in New Jersey: full-service restaurants (610), limited-service restaurants (373), residential remodelers (337), general freight trucking, local (265), fitness and recreational sports centers (240), landscaping services (223).
Where in New Jersey the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Bergen | 1,654 | 14% |
| Middlesex | 1,013 | 9% |
| Ocean | 1,003 | 8% |
| Monmouth | 915 | 8% |
| Essex | 905 | 8% |
| Union | 786 | 7% |
| Morris | 738 | 6% |
| Hudson | 730 | 6% |
7(a) or 504 in New Jersey
5% of New Jersey SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $1.0M here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in New Jersey:
- Trenton Business Assistance Corporation: 377 504 loans, median $1.0M
- Empire State Certified Development Corporation: 193 504 loans, median $1.1M
- Union County Economic Development Corporation: 27 504 loans, median $496K
- SBA CLSC Servicing: 17 504 loans, median $338K
New Jersey SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 1,006 | 67 | $658M |
| FY2021 | 1,247 | 118 | $1.1B |
| FY2022 | 1,308 | 120 | $802M |
| FY2023 | 2,009 | 84 | $974M |
| FY2024 | 2,170 | 91 | $905M |
| FY2025 | 2,261 | 79 | $1.2B |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 1,251 | 59 | $725M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Free SBA help in New Jersey
Before you apply, these offices help with loan packaging and lender questions at no cost.
- SBA New Jersey District Office. 2 Gateway Center, Suite 1002, Newark, NJ 07102. Phone 973-645-2434. The SBA office for New Jersey: lender lists, program questions and local events.
- New Jersey Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC). No-cost one-on-one consulting through centers across the state, with the state office at Rutgers Business School in Newark. Useful for loan packaging, projections and cash-flow prep before you apply.
- SCORE New Jersey. Free mentoring through six chapters: Central Jersey, Metro NJ, Monmouth, Northeast NJ, Northwest New Jersey and Princeton.
Contact details verified October 24, 2026.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in New Jersey?
By funded loans since FY2020, TD Bank, National Association leads New Jersey with 2,874 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in New Jersey?
The median 7(a) loan in New Jersey is $150K, and the middle half runs from $50K to $500K. The median 504 loan is $1.0M. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do New Jersey SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on New Jersey 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 10%, against 9.25% nationally. 92% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in New Jersey?
Yes. 32% of New Jersey 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 New Jersey. 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.