Best SBA Lenders In California (2027)
California businesses closed 6,892 SBA 7(a) loans worth $4.16B in FY2026, through 185 lenders. U.S. Bank led by dollar volume, and 721 of the loans financed business acquisitions.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Bank was the top SBA lender in California with $286M across 923 loans.
- 721 business acquisitions were financed, averaging $1.2M per loan.
- The median loan was $250K, and loans averaged 11.6 years in term.
- Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores drew the most SBA dollars of any industry.
Top SBA Lenders In California
Ranked by SBA 7(a) dollar volume approved in FY2026. Average rate is the rate at approval.
| # | Lender | SBA Loans | Total Volume | Avg Loan | Avg Rate | Acquisition Loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. BankCincinnati, OH | 923 | $286M | $310K | 9.04% | 13 |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 308 | $275M | $892K | 9.00% | 80 |
| 3 | Newtek BankMiami, FL | 752 | $197M | $262K | 10.98% | 14 |
| 4 | Bank of HopeLos Angeles, CA | 226 | $197M | $870K | 8.66% | 11 |
| 5 | US Metro BankGarden Grove, CA | 98 | $170M | $1.7M | 8.29% | 27 |
| 6 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 218 | $146M | $671K | 9.63% | 32 |
| 7 | Harvest Small Business FinanceLaguna Hills, CA | 123 | $140M | $1.1M | 9.31% | 2 |
| 8 | Open BankLos Angeles, CA | 81 | $124M | $1.5M | 8.31% | 37 |
| 9 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 590 | $120M | $204K | 9.89% | 0 |
| 10 | Wells Fargo BankSioux Falls, SD | 117 | $112M | $954K | 8.02% | 0 |
| 11 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 188 | $85.3M | $454K | 9.05% | 68 |
| 12 | Port 51 Lending LLCNew York, NY | 46 | $79.3M | $1.7M | 9.17% | 17 |
| 13 | East West BankPasadena, CA | 89 | $72.0M | $809K | 8.50% | 14 |
| 14 | City National BankLos Angeles, CA | 57 | $70.2M | $1.2M | 7.59% | 16 |
| 15 | Byline BankChicago, IL | 47 | $68.2M | $1.5M | 9.51% | 18 |
Best SBA Lenders For Buying A Business In California
Business acquisition loans are SBA loans used to buy an existing company. They are larger than average and need more experience from the lender.
Most Active Acquisition Lenders
- Live Oak Banking Company80 acquisition loans
- The Huntington National Bank68 acquisition loans
- Open Bank37 acquisition loans
- Celtic Bank Corporation32 acquisition loans
- US Metro Bank27 acquisition loans
- Byline Bank18 acquisition loans
Among this area's top 15 lenders by volume.
Buying A Business?
We take your deal to the SBA lenders that close the most acquisitions, so they compete for it. It is free to you.
Loan Sizes In California
How SBA dollars split by loan size.
Top Industries In California
Industries that drew the most SBA dollars.
SBA Lending In California Since 2020
SBA 7(a) dollars approved each fiscal year.
FY2026 dollar volume in California was down 13.4% from FY2025, and the loan count was down 28.9%. Part of that drop is the calendar: SBA approved no 7(a) loans in October 2025 during the federal government shutdown (October 1 to November 12, 2025), so FY2026 covers about 11 months of lending.
How To Choose An SBA Lender In California
Lending in California is spread out. 185 lenders made at least one SBA 7(a) loan, and the top five together made 27% of the dollars. That gives you room to compare offers, because no single bank sets the terms.
6 of the top 15 lenders are headquartered in CA, including Bank of Hope. Local banks can bring relationship banking and local credit knowledge; national SBA lenders bring speed and experience with larger acquisitions.
The average SBA loan here was $604K, close to the national average of $578K, and the median was $250K.
Among the top lenders with at least three loans, City National Bank had the lowest average rate at approval (7.59%). The overall average was 9.55%, and 87% of loans were variable. Rate depends heavily on loan size and term, so compare offers on the same structure.
Business acquisitions made up 21% of SBA dollars here, below the national share of 27%. 721 buyers used an SBA loan to purchase a business, with an average acquisition loan of $1.2M.
The fastest way to compare is to send one complete package to several lenders at once. That is what we do: GoSBA Loans takes your deal to the SBA lenders that fit it, and they compete for your business.
How Much You Need Down
For a business acquisition, SBA sets the minimum Down Payment. Lenders can ask for more.
- 10% minimum. SBA requires a Down Payment of at least 10% of the project for an initial business acquisition (SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15).
- A seller note can cover up to half. When the seller finances part of the price on full standby, with no payments for the life of the SBA loan, it can count for up to half of the required Down Payment. That can bring your cash to 5%.
- Investors can help. Minority investors can fund part of the Down Payment. Anyone who owns 20% or more personally guarantees the loan.
- Ten year term for most acquisitions. Business acquisition loans without real estate run up to 10 years. Real estate in the deal can stretch the term.
Example For California
The average business acquisition loan here was $1.2M. At 10% down, that is a project of about $1.4M:
Illustration only. Your lender sets the final structure.
Questions About SBA Lenders In California
Who is the top SBA lender in California?
U.S. Bank made the most SBA 7(a) dollars in California in FY2026: $286M across 923 loans.
How many SBA loans were made in California?
SBA approved 6,892 7(a) loans totaling $4.16B in California in FY2026. The average loan was $604K and the median was $250K. 185 lenders made at least one loan.
What is the average SBA loan rate in California?
The average initial rate on SBA 7(a) loans in California was 9.55% (8.49% weighted by loan size). 87% of loans had a variable rate tied to the Prime Rate. SBA caps the spread a lender can charge, and larger loans usually price lower.
Which SBA lender is best for buying a business in California?
Live Oak Banking Company closed the most business acquisition loans among the top lenders here (80). The best lender for your deal depends on its size and industry, so it helps to have several lenders review it.
How much do I need down to buy a business in California with an SBA loan?
SBA requires at least 10% down for a business acquisition. A seller note on full standby can cover up to half of that, so some buyers put in 5% of their own cash. On the average acquisition loan here ($1.2M), 10% down is roughly $137K.
Does GoSBA Loans charge borrowers?
No. GoSBA Loans is 100% free to borrowers. We prepare your loan package and take it to the SBA lenders that fit your deal.
Keep Exploring
Cities In California
- Los Angeles$319M
- San Diego$164M
- San Francisco$86.1M
- Sacramento$84.8M
- Anaheim$66.9M
- Bakersfield$65.3M
- San Jose$63.5M
- Fresno$55.1M
- Riverside$47.1M
- Irvine$45.3M
- Glendale$44.4M
- Long Beach$43.2M
- Santa Ana$36.5M
- Corona$36.4M
- Huntington Beach$32.0M
- Roseville$29.7M
- Ontario$29.6M
- San Marcos$27.1M
- Oakland$26.6M
- Orange$26.3M
- Santa Fe Springs$25.7M
- Stockton$25.5M
- Garden Grove$24.0M
- Temecula$23.9M
- Costa Mesa$23.3M
- Napa$23.2M
- North Hollywood$23.1M
- Santa Rosa$22.6M
- Escondido$21.8M
- Concord$21.7M
- Torrance$21.5M
- Brea$21.2M
- Woodland Hills$21.1M
- Camarillo$21.0M
- Murrieta$20.6M
- Vista$19.6M
- Rancho Cucamonga$19.5M
- Fremont$19.3M
- Santa Monica$18.6M
- Modesto$18.5M
- Alhambra$17.7M
- Van Nuys$17.2M
- Folsom$17.0M
- Santa Barbara$16.7M
- Fullerton$16.5M
- Oceanside$16.3M
- Buena Park$15.7M
- Lancaster$15.7M
- Commerce$15.6M
- San Luis Obispo$14.9M
- Simi Valley$14.2M
- Vernon$13.9M
- Carlsbad$13.6M
- Hayward$13.3M
- El Cajon$13.2M
- South El Monte$12.6M
- Gardena$12.3M
- Tustin$12.1M
- Compton$12.1M
- Newport Beach$12.0M
- Palm Springs$12.0M
- Turlock$11.1M
- San Bernardino$10.4M
- Berkeley$9.7M
- Apple Valley$9.6M
- Rancho Cordova$9.2M
- Pomona$9.1M
- Elk Grove$8.9M
- Oxnard$7.2M
- La Jolla$6.9M
- Milpitas$4.4M
- Carson$3.6M
Top Industries Here
- Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
- Full-Service Restaurants
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels
- Limited-Service Restaurants
- Offices of Dentists
- Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly
- Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
- Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers)
About this data. Rankings use SBA 7(a) loan approvals from the SBA FOIA data set, fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026), as published by SBA through September 30, 2026. Lenders are ranked by approved dollar volume. Rates are the initial rate at approval, a simple average across loans; most SBA 7(a) loans are variable and move with the Prime Rate. Business acquisition loans are those SBA marks as a change of ownership. GoSBA Loans is an SBA loan broker, not a lender, and is not affiliated with SBA.
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