Hanmi Bank SBA Loan Review
Rates, lending data, top states & industries — updated for 2026
Hanmi Bank SBA 7(a) Lending Program
Hanmi Bank ranked #40 nationally among SBA 7(a) lenders in 2025, approving $181.2M across 214 SBA loans. While not the largest SBA lender by volume, Hanmi Bank’s SBA program supported 1,944 jobs and serves borrowers looking for a mid-market SBA lender well-suited for business acquisitions.
Hanmi Bank’s SBA borrowers benefit from rates well below the market average. At 9.28%, their average SBA 7(a) rate is 1.04% lower than the national average of 10.32%, suggesting competitive pricing — particularly for well-qualified borrowers with strong credit and collateral.
Their SBA lending is concentrated in Colorado, California, Washington, with notable SBA loan volume in industries like Full-Service Restaurants, Limited-Service Restaurants, Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners. The data below is sourced entirely from official SBA FOIA records and covers Hanmi Bank’s SBA 7(a) lending activity for calendar year 2025 — not their conventional lending or other banking products.
Hanmi Bank SBA Loan Reviews
Hanmi Bank is a Korean-American bank and SBA Preferred Lender specializing in serving Asian-American and immigrant-owned businesses. They offer bilingual SBA services and have particular expertise with hospitality and food service businesses.
“Hanmi understood our Korean restaurant business inside and out. Their bilingual SBA team made the process seamless for our family.”
“Good rates and cultural understanding, but the SBA process still required extensive documentation. Typical for SBA but was well-guided.”
Reviews sourced from Trustpilot, BBB, and other public review platforms. Individual experiences may vary. GoSBA Loans is not affiliated with Hanmi Bank.
Hanmi Bank SBA Loans by Business Type
Not all SBA lenders fund the same types of deals. Some focus their SBA programs on established businesses with years of cash flow history, while others actively seek out startup financing or business acquisition deals. Understanding Hanmi Bank’s SBA loan mix helps you assess whether their program aligns with your specific situation. Here’s how their $181.2M in 2025 SBA 7(a) approvals breaks down:
Hanmi Bank’s SBA program is primarily focused on established businesses, with only 4% of their portfolio going to startups (11 loans). If you’re launching a new business, you may want to prioritize SBA lenders with higher startup allocation — though Hanmi Bank may still consider strong startup deals in industries they know well.
Business acquisitions (change of ownership) account for a significant 64% of Hanmi Bank’s SBA lending (134 deals totaling $115.8M). This tells us Hanmi Bank’s SBA team has deep experience underwriting acquisition deals — evaluating seller financials, business valuations, and transition plans. If you’re buying a business with an SBA loan, Hanmi Bank is well-equipped to handle the complexity.
Existing business SBA loans represent the largest category at 20% of Hanmi Bank’s SBA portfolio ($36.5M across 43 loans). These are businesses with 2+ years of operating history, and they typically receive the fastest SBA approvals and most competitive rates because lenders can evaluate actual financial performance rather than projections. New businesses (under 2 years old) account for 12% ($22.4M, 26 SBA loans).
Hanmi Bank vs. National Average
How does Hanmi Bank compare to the average SBA 7(a) lender in 2025? The SBA 7(a) program funded 78078 loans totaling $478K in average loan size at a 10.32% average rate. Here’s how Hanmi Bank stacks up:
Hanmi Bank9.28%
National Avg10.32%
✅ Hanmi Bank’s rate is 1.04% lower than the national average
Hanmi Bank$847K
National Avg$478K
Hanmi Bank’s avg loan is 1.8x the national average
Understanding how Hanmi Bank compares to national benchmarks helps you evaluate whether their terms are competitive. A rate lower than the national average of 10.32% can translate to significant savings over the life of a 10-25 year SBA loan. However, individual rates depend on your credit profile, deal structure, and the specific lender relationship — which is why comparing multiple offers is critical.
Variable vs. Fixed Rate Breakdown
SBA 7(a) loans can carry either variable or fixed interest rates. Variable rates are tied to the Prime Rate and adjust quarterly, while fixed rates remain constant for the life of the loan. Here’s how Hanmi Bank’s portfolio breaks down:
Variable rate loans made up 100% of Hanmi Bank’s SBA portfolio at an average rate of 9.28%. Fixed rate loans accounted for 0% at 0%. The SBA caps variable rates at Prime + 2.75% for most loans, so your actual rate depends on the spread each lender charges. Fixed rate loans offer rate certainty but are less common in the SBA 7(a) program.
Loan Term Breakdown
SBA 7(a) loan terms typically range from 7 to 25 years depending on the use of proceeds. Loans for commercial real estate qualify for 25-year terms, while working capital and business acquisition loans typically max out at 10 years. Here’s how Hanmi Bank’s portfolio splits:
Long-term loans (typically for commercial real estate purchases) carry significantly lower rates averaging 8.94% compared to 9.53% for shorter-term working capital and business acquisition loans. The average long-term loan is also larger at $1.1M vs $615K for short-term loans. If your deal involves real estate, you’ll generally qualify for longer terms and lower rates.
Top States for Hanmi Bank SBA Loans
Geographic presence matters in SBA lending. Lenders who are active in your state often have relationships with local SBA district offices, understand regional real estate markets, and may have branch locations that can facilitate closings. The table below shows every state where Hanmi Bank funded SBA 7(a) loans in 2025, ranked by total dollar volume:
| State | Loans | Total Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 50 | $44.9M |
| California | 39 | $35.0M |
| Washington | 30 | $20.5M |
| New York | 17 | $16.7M |
| Maryland | 10 | $14.2M |
| Georgia | 18 | $13.2M |
| Virginia | 14 | $11.6M |
| Texas | 8 | $5.3M |
| DC | 5 | $4.3M |
| Alabama | 2 | $3.3M |
| New Jersey | 6 | $2.6M |
| Florida | 3 | $2.3M |
| Ohio | 3 | $2.1M |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $1.8M |
| North Carolina | 2 | $918K |
Hanmi Bank funded SBA loans across 15 states in 2025, with the heaviest concentration in Colorado, California, Washington. If your business is located in one of these high-volume states, Hanmi Bank likely has loan officers who understand your local market conditions — commercial real estate values, industry mix, and economic dynamics. This familiarity can translate to faster underwriting and more competitive terms.
That said, many borrowers benefit from working with lenders outside their immediate geography. National SBA lenders may offer better rates or more experience with your specific industry. An SBA loan broker can identify the best match regardless of location.
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Top Industries Funded by Hanmi Bank
Industry specialization is one of the most underrated factors in SBA lending. A lender who has funded 50 dental practices understands the economics of that business model far better than one processing their first dental deal. The table below shows which industries Hanmi Bank funded most actively in 2025:
| Industry | Loans | Total Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Service Restaurants | 35 | $26.5M |
| Limited-Service Restaurants | 27 | $13.0M |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners | 6 | $9.5M |
| Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores | 5 | $9.3M |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars | 11 | $5.8M |
| Solid Waste Collection | 1 | $5.0M |
| Car Washes | 2 | $4.2M |
| Employment Placement Agencies | 1 | $3.1M |
| Dental Laboratories | 2 | $2.4M |
| General Automotive Repair | 2 | $1.9M |
| Other Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers | 1 | $1.8M |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) | 5 | $1.7M |
| Child Day Care Services | 1 | $1.5M |
| Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | 2 | $1.2M |
| All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction | 1 | $1.1M |
If your business falls within one of Hanmi Bank’s top-funded industries, you may benefit from their underwriting familiarity. Lenders with deep industry experience understand the typical revenue patterns, seasonal cash flow fluctuations, margin structures, and collateral values specific to your sector. This expertise typically translates into three tangible advantages: faster processing (they know exactly what documentation to request), higher approval rates (they can accurately assess risk without conservative assumptions), and more competitive terms (they price the loan based on actual industry data rather than generalized risk models).
Conversely, if your industry doesn’t appear in Hanmi Bank’s top list, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t fund your deal — but you may want to prioritize lenders who have more experience with your business type. An SBA loan broker can identify which lenders have the deepest expertise in your specific industry.
How to Get an SBA Loan Through Hanmi Bank
There are two primary ways to access Hanmi Bank for an SBA 7(a) loan, and the path you choose can significantly impact your rate, terms, and timeline:
Option 1: Apply directly to Hanmi Bank. You can contact Hanmi Bank’s commercial lending team and submit an SBA 7(a) application. This approach is straightforward — you work with one bank, one loan officer, and receive a single offer. The advantage is simplicity. The disadvantage is that you have no way to know whether Hanmi Bank’s terms are competitive without a reference point. You’re essentially accepting whatever rate and terms they offer.
Option 2: Use an SBA loan broker (recommended). An SBA loan broker like GoSBA Loans submits your application to Hanmi Bank and 50+ other SBA lenders simultaneously. Instead of one quote, you receive 3-5 competing term sheets. This fundamentally changes the negotiation dynamic — lenders know they’re competing for your business, which drives rates down and speeds up processing. The broker’s service is completely free to borrowers because lenders pay the broker origination fee.
What to prepare: Regardless of which path you choose, Hanmi Bank will typically require 2-3 years of business and personal tax returns, a 10% equity injection, a personal financial statement (SBA Form 413), and details about the business or property you’re acquiring. For acquisitions, you’ll also need the seller’s financial records and a signed Letter of Intent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hanmi Bank’s average SBA loan size?
What interest rate does Hanmi Bank charge on SBA loans?
Does Hanmi Bank fund SBA loans for startups?
Should I apply directly to Hanmi Bank or use a broker?
How does Hanmi Bank compare to other SBA lenders?
Hanmi Bank SBA Alternatives
While Hanmi Bank is a strong SBA lender ranked #40 nationally, many borrowers benefit from comparing offers across multiple banks. Each SBA lender has different rate spreads, industry preferences, geographic focus areas, and appetite for startups vs. existing businesses. The lenders below represent the top SBA 7(a) lenders in the country by total loan volume — any of them could be a viable alternative depending on your specific deal:
- #1 Live Oak Banking Company — $2.85B funded across 2280 loans
- #2 The Huntington National Bank — $2.09B funded across 6998 loans
- #3 Newtek Bank, National Association — $2.03B funded across 4828 loans
- #4 Northeast Bank — $1.32B funded across 7815 loans
- #5 Readycap Lending, LLC — $1.17B funded across 3137 loans
- #6 U.S. Bank, National Association — $871.2M funded across 3453 loans
- #7 First Internet Bank of Indiana — $712.3M funded across 487 loans
- #8 Celtic Bank Corporation — $592.9M funded across 1482 loans
- #9 JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association — $590.5M funded across 1914 loans
- #10 Byline Bank — $561.1M funded across 505 loans
The best way to determine which lender is the right fit for your deal is to submit a single application through an SBA loan broker like GoSBA and let multiple lenders compete for your business. This way you see actual term sheets from Hanmi Bank and its competitors — side by side — before making a decision.
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Data sourced from official SBA 7(a) FOIA loan approval records for Calendar Year 2025, published by the U.S. Small Business Administration. For official SBA program information, visit sba.gov.
