Most “SBA preferred lender lists” you’ll find online are just static directories of bank names — no rankings, no loan volume data, no way to tell which lenders actually fund deals at scale. We built something different.
We ranked every active SBA 7(a) lender using actual FOIA loan approval data from calendar year 2025 (January–December 2025). This isn’t a list of editorial picks or paid placements. It’s raw data showing exactly how many loans each lender funded and at what total dollar volume — for the most recent full calendar year.
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide:
- 100 lenders ranked by total SBA 7(a) loan volume
- Data covers CY2025 — the most recent full-year FOIA data available
- Live Oak Banking Company is #1 with $2.68 billion in SBA loans
- 68,435 total SBA 7(a) loans funded in CY2025, totaling $33.80 billion
Whether you’re looking for the right lender for a $150K working capital line or a $5M business acquisition, this list shows you who’s actually putting capital to work — and at what scale. Use it to shortlist lenders that match your deal size, or work with a broker who already has relationships with dozens of these lenders.
What Is an SBA Preferred Lender (PLP)?
The SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) gives qualifying banks and financial institutions delegated authority to approve SBA 7(a) loans without waiting for the SBA to review each application. That’s the key distinction — a PLP lender makes the credit decision in-house, while a standard SBA lender has to submit the package to the SBA for approval.
For borrowers, the practical difference is speed. A PLP lender can move from application to approval in 5–10 business days. A non-PLP lender sending the file to the SBA for review? That typically takes 15–30+ business days just for the approval, before closing even begins.
To earn PLP status, a lender must demonstrate:
- Significant SBA lending experience — they’ve been doing this for years, not months
- Low default rates — their SBA loan portfolio performs well
- Satisfactory SBA reviews — the SBA periodically audits PLP lenders to ensure compliance
- Proficiency in SBA loan processing — they know the SOP inside and out
Not every SBA lender is a Preferred Lender. There are roughly 5,000+ lenders approved to make SBA loans, but only about 2,000 hold PLP designation. Many community banks and credit unions can originate SBA loans but process them through the SBA’s standard channel — which works, it just takes longer.
It’s also worth noting that SBA Express is a separate program. Express loans (up to $500,000) have a 36-hour SBA turnaround and are popular for smaller credit lines. PLP covers the full 7(a) program up to $5 million. Many of the top lenders on our list participate in both programs.
Almost all of the highest-volume SBA lenders are PLP lenders — the delegated authority lets them process deals faster, which means more throughput, which means more loans funded. If a lender appears in the top 50 on our list below, you can safely assume they hold PLP status. The volume speaks for itself.
Top 100 SBA Lenders — Full Ranking by CY2025 Loan Volume
Below is the complete ranking of the top 100 SBA 7(a) lenders by total loan volume for calendar year 2025 (January–December 2025). Data is sourced from SBA FOIA 7(a) Loan Data. The table includes total loans funded, total dollar volume (in millions), and average loan size (in thousands).
Looking for a specific lender? Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to search by name.
Top 10 SBA Lenders — With Commentary
| Rank | Lender | Loans | Volume ($M) | Avg Loan ($K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 2,148 | $2,676.3 | $1,246 |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 6,071 | $1,861.8 | $307 |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 4,056 | $1,490.1 | $367 |
| 4 | Northeast Bank | 6,307 | $1,099.3 | $174 |
| 5 | ReadyCap Lending, LLC | 2,430 | $900.5 | $371 |
| 6 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 3,138 | $853.3 | $272 |
| 7 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 474 | $675.2 | $1,424 |
| 8 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 1,440 | $551.8 | $383 |
| 9 | Byline Bank | 461 | $501.0 | $1,087 |
| 10 | GBank | 178 | $488.1 | $2,742 |
Quick Notes on the Top 10
- Live Oak Banking Company — #1 by volume at $2.68B in CY2025. They specialize in specific industries including healthcare, veterinary practices, and funeral homes. National reach with a digital-first lending model.
- The Huntington National Bank — Funded 6,071 loans — the second-highest loan count on this list. Strong Midwest presence with high volume of smaller SBA loans averaging $307K each.
- Newtek Bank — 4,056 loans totaling $1.49B. Average loan size of $367K makes them a strong fit for sub-$500K SBA deals.
- Northeast Bank — 6,307 loans — the most of any lender in CY2025 by count. Average loan size of $174K makes them one of the strongest SBA Express lenders in the country.
- ReadyCap Lending — 2,430 loans totaling $900.5M. A non-bank SBA lender known for fast processing and flexibility on deal structures.
- U.S. Bank — A major national bank with $853M in SBA volume. Good option for borrowers who want the backing and stability of a large institution.
- First Internet Bank of Indiana — Only 474 loans but $675M in volume. That’s an average deal size of $1.42M — making them a premier lender for business acquisitions.
- Celtic Bank — Utah-based SBA powerhouse. $551.8M across 1,440 loans with true national reach.
- Byline Bank — $501M across 461 loans gives them one of the highest average deal sizes ($1.09M) in the top 10. A go-to for larger SBA transactions.
- GBank — Just 178 loans but $488M in volume — the highest average deal size in the top 10 at $2.74M. Los Angeles-based, targeting large acquisitions near the $5M SBA cap.
Lenders Ranked #11–50
| Rank | Lender | Loans | Volume ($M) | Avg Loan ($K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Wells Fargo Bank | 1,335 | $479.2 | $359 |
| 12 | JPMorgan Chase Bank | 1,471 | $464.8 | $316 |
| 13 | Harvest Small Business Finance | 462 | $462.5 | $1,001 |
| 14 | Bank of America | 753 | $452.7 | $601 |
| 15 | TD Bank | 2,935 | $423.1 | $144 |
| 16 | First Bank of the Lake | 575 | $392.8 | $683 |
| 17 | Port 51 Lending LLC | 217 | $359.5 | $1,657 |
| 18 | United Midwest Savings Bank | 919 | $358.6 | $390 |
| 19 | US Metro Bank | 172 | $352.0 | $2,047 |
| 20 | Cadence Bank | 640 | $347.6 | $543 |
| 21 | Bank of Hope | 391 | $331.5 | $848 |
| 22 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust | 2,782 | $302.4 | $109 |
| 23 | Lendistry SBLC | 1,334 | $283.9 | $213 |
| 24 | Brookline Bank | 223 | $277.8 | $1,246 |
| 25 | Enterprise Bank & Trust | 167 | $273.9 | $1,640 |
| 26 | Pathward National Association | 124 | $267.6 | $2,158 |
| 27 | Zions Bank | 1,168 | $228.9 | $196 |
| 28 | BayFirst National Bank | 1,372 | $228.3 | $166 |
| 29 | Fifth Third Bank | 281 | $220.4 | $784 |
| 30 | KeyBank | 661 | $214.9 | $325 |
| 31 | Citizens Bank | 270 | $211.0 | $782 |
| 32 | Truliant FCU | 160 | $202.2 | $1,264 |
| 33 | First Financial Bank | 177 | $199.9 | $1,129 |
| 34 | Old National Bank | 206 | $198.6 | $964 |
| 35 | Pinnacle Bank | 159 | $196.7 | $1,237 |
| 36 | Open Bank | 108 | $192.4 | $1,782 |
| 37 | Hanmi Bank | 215 | $189.8 | $883 |
| 38 | Metro City Bank | 102 | $187.1 | $1,834 |
| 39 | Community Bank & Trust-West Georgia | 107 | $179.8 | $1,680 |
| 40 | Northwest Bank | 174 | $172.4 | $991 |
| 41 | VelocitySBA, LLC | 165 | $159.1 | $965 |
| 42 | First National Bank of Pennsylvania | 160 | $152.8 | $955 |
| 43 | Centerstone SBA Lending | 106 | $151.7 | $1,431 |
| 44 | T Bank, National Association | 85 | $148.0 | $1,741 |
| 45 | First Savings Bank | 116 | $146.0 | $1,258 |
| 46 | Climate First Bank | 127 | $144.2 | $1,136 |
| 47 | United Community Bank | 148 | $142.8 | $965 |
| 48 | Gulf Coast Bank and Trust | 142 | $141.0 | $993 |
| 49 | Dogwood State Bank | 146 | $140.6 | $963 |
| 50 | PCB Bank | 118 | $134.1 | $1,136 |
Lenders Ranked #51–100
| Rank | Lender | Loans | Volume ($M) | Avg Loan ($K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | The Bancorp Bank | 111 | $131.1 | $1,182 |
| 52 | Regions Bank | 160 | $130.9 | $818 |
| 53 | Meridian Bank | 121 | $122.2 | $1,010 |
| 54 | Commonwealth Business Bank | 98 | $122.2 | $1,247 |
| 55 | Mission Valley Bank | 69 | $117.9 | $1,709 |
| 56 | WSFS Bank | 155 | $117.7 | $760 |
| 57 | Shoreham Bank | 112 | $116.4 | $1,039 |
| 58 | East West Bank | 163 | $116.2 | $713 |
| 59 | City National Bank | 93 | $115.4 | $1,241 |
| 60 | Grasshopper Bank | 219 | $113.8 | $520 |
| 61 | First Commonwealth Bank | 195 | $113.6 | $583 |
| 62 | Merchants Bank of Indiana | 81 | $113.6 | $1,402 |
| 63 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust | 111 | $110.9 | $999 |
| 64 | Bank Five Nine | 166 | $110.8 | $667 |
| 65 | Heritage Bank | 148 | $110.7 | $748 |
| 66 | Midwest Regional Bank | 111 | $108.6 | $979 |
| 67 | CenTrust Bank | 541 | $106.6 | $197 |
| 68 | Milestone Bank | 62 | $104.8 | $1,691 |
| 69 | Truist Bank | 72 | $104.7 | $1,454 |
| 70 | Peoples Bank | 105 | $99.7 | $950 |
| 71 | Colony Bank | 215 | $98.9 | $460 |
| 72 | Southwestern National Bank | 61 | $98.2 | $1,610 |
| 73 | Banc of California | 63 | $95.8 | $1,521 |
| 74 | FinWise Bank | 84 | $91.3 | $1,086 |
| 75 | Stone Bank | 260 | $89.8 | $345 |
| 76 | CalPrivate Bank | 72 | $89.3 | $1,240 |
| 77 | First Bank | 90 | $87.7 | $974 |
| 78 | America First FCU | 74 | $87.1 | $1,177 |
| 79 | Hancock Whitney Bank | 109 | $86.4 | $793 |
| 80 | Comerica Bank | 131 | $86.1 | $658 |
| 81 | Wallis Bank | 85 | $85.8 | $1,010 |
| 82 | SouthState Bank | 131 | $85.1 | $650 |
| 83 | Hanover Community Bank | 88 | $83.9 | $953 |
| 84 | PNC Bank | 289 | $83.8 | $290 |
| 85 | OakStar Bank | 110 | $80.0 | $728 |
| 86 | Bankwell Bank | 79 | $78.2 | $990 |
| 87 | Texas Capital Bank | 46 | $78.1 | $1,698 |
| 88 | Columbia Bank | 666 | $75.1 | $113 |
| 89 | HomeTrust Bank | 72 | $72.1 | $1,001 |
| 90 | Fulton Bank | 102 | $70.8 | $694 |
| 91 | United FCU | 53 | $70.7 | $1,334 |
| 92 | Renasant Bank | 57 | $69.9 | $1,226 |
| 93 | FWBank | 63 | $69.6 | $1,104 |
| 94 | First Business Bank | 47 | $66.7 | $1,419 |
| 95 | Mountain America FCU | 224 | $66.6 | $297 |
| 96 | Banner Bank | 238 | $65.9 | $277 |
| 97 | Webster Bank | 175 | $65.5 | $374 |
| 98 | Global One Bank | 30 | $65.2 | $2,174 |
| 99 | Woori America Bank | 80 | $63.9 | $799 |
| 100 | City National Bank of Florida | 89 | $63.7 | $716 |
Data source: SBA FOIA 7(a) Loan Data, Calendar Year 2025 (January–December 2025). Rankings based on total approved loan volume. Visit our SBA Lender Directory to search lenders by location and loan type.
What to Look for in an SBA Preferred Lender
A high ranking on this list doesn’t automatically mean a lender is the right fit for your deal. Volume matters — it shows experience and capacity — but there are other factors that can make or break your SBA loan experience.
Match the average loan size to your needs. If you’re borrowing $200K for working capital, you probably don’t want a lender whose average deal is $2.5M. They’re built for larger transactions and may not prioritize smaller deals. Conversely, if you’re acquiring a $4M business, a lender averaging $150K per loan may not have the underwriting depth for your deal.
Industry expertise matters. Some SBA lenders specialize in specific sectors — Live Oak is known for healthcare and veterinary, for example. A lender that understands your industry’s cash flow patterns, margins, and risks will underwrite more favorably than one that doesn’t.
Geographic coverage varies widely. National banks like Chase and Bank of America lend everywhere. Many lenders on this list — particularly community banks — focus on specific states or regions. Make sure your target lender actually operates in your area.
Processing speed isn’t uniform. All PLP lenders are faster than the standard SBA channel, but some are significantly faster than others. Lenders with dedicated SBA departments and streamlined processes can close in 30–45 days. Others may take 60–90.
Ask whether they hold or sell the loan. Some lenders sell SBA loans on the secondary market after closing. That’s not necessarily bad — it’s common practice — but it means your servicing relationship may change. If ongoing relationship banking matters to you, ask upfront. For more on how SBA loan interest rates work (including the current prime rate), check our rate guides.
PLP vs. Standard SBA Processing — Why It Matters
The difference between working with a PLP lender and a standard SBA lender comes down to one thing: who makes the approval decision.
| Feature | PLP Lender | Standard SBA Processing |
|---|---|---|
| Approval Authority | Lender decides | SBA reviews and decides |
| Processing Time | 5–10 business days | 15–30+ business days |
| Experience Level | Extensive SBA experience required | Any SBA-approved lender |
| Loan Limit | Full SBA 7(a) up to $5M | Full SBA 7(a) up to $5M |
| Number of Lenders | ~2,000 PLP lenders | ~5,000+ total SBA lenders |
With a PLP lender, your loan package stays in-house. The lender’s SBA team reviews your application, makes the credit decision, and issues the SBA authorization — all without sending anything to the SBA for approval. The SBA essentially trusts these lenders to make good decisions based on their track record.
With standard processing, the lender packages your application and submits it to the SBA’s Loan Processing Center. An SBA loan officer reviews it independently, may request additional documentation, and eventually issues (or denies) the authorization. This extra step adds weeks to the timeline.
For most borrowers, working with a PLP lender is the better path. Faster approvals mean you can close sooner, which matters when you’re buying a business, securing real estate, or need capital before a deadline. The right SBA loan broker will already know which PLP lenders are the best fit for your situation.
How to Find the Right SBA Lender for You
Don’t just pick the biggest lender on the list — pick the one that fits your deal. The #1 lender by volume may not be the best choice for a $300K restaurant loan in Tennessee. The #47 lender might be perfect.
This is where working with an SBA loan broker pays off. Instead of applying to one lender and hoping for the best, a broker shops your deal to multiple PLP lenders simultaneously. You get competing offers and better terms.
GoSBA Loans works with 50+ SBA lenders, including many of the top PLP lenders on this list. We match borrowers to lenders based on deal size, industry, geography, borrower profile, and speed requirements. There’s no guesswork.
- FREE business plans and financial projections — we build them for you
- $0 deposits — you don’t pay unless you close
- No exclusivity — you’re free to shop elsewhere
- Access to 50+ lenders — one application, multiple offers
Talk to our team → We’ll match you with the right PLP lender for your SBA loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SBA Preferred Lender (PLP)?
An SBA Preferred Lender is a bank or financial institution that has been granted delegated authority by the SBA to approve 7(a) loans without SBA review. This means faster processing times and a more streamlined experience for borrowers. PLP lenders have demonstrated extensive SBA lending experience and maintain low default rates.
How many SBA Preferred Lenders are there?
There are approximately 2,000 lenders with PLP designation out of more than 5,000 total SBA-approved lenders. PLP lenders account for the vast majority of SBA 7(a) loan volume because their delegated authority allows them to process loans more efficiently.
Who is the largest SBA lender?
Based on the latest full-year SBA FOIA data (January–December 2025): by total dollar volume, Live Oak Banking Company is #1 with $2.68 billion in SBA 7(a) loans. By total number of loans funded, Northeast Bank leads with 6,307 individual SBA loans, followed by Huntington National Bank with 6,071.
Is Chase Bank an SBA Preferred Lender?
Yes. JPMorgan Chase Bank is an active SBA Preferred Lender with $464.8 million in SBA 7(a) loans across 1,471 deals in calendar year 2025, ranking #12 on our list. Chase tends to be relationship-driven — having an existing Chase banking relationship improves your odds of approval.
Are PLP lenders faster than other SBA lenders?
Yes, significantly. PLP lenders can approve SBA loans in 5–10 business days because they don’t need to submit applications to the SBA for review. Standard SBA processing through non-PLP lenders typically takes 15–30+ business days just for the approval step.
Do I have to go directly to a PLP lender?
No. You can apply directly, but many borrowers work with an SBA loan broker who submits your deal to multiple PLP lenders at once. This gives you competing offers and better terms without having to manage multiple applications yourself. Contact GoSBA Loans to get matched with the right lenders for your deal.
