State lending data
SBA lending in District of Columbia
469 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in District of Columbia recently, at a median of $170,000. The lenders that made them, what they charged, and how the state is trending.
469 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in District of Columbia in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $170,000. The most active lender in the state was Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, with 111 loans. Approvals are down 16.1% on the year.
SBA lending in District of Columbia, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans actually approved to businesses in District of Columbia, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | District of Columbia | National |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 469 | 214,102 |
| Total approved | $208.0 million | $104.1 billion |
| Median loan | $170,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th – 75th percentile | $50,000 – $500,000 | $50,000 – $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 32.2% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010–19 | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 5,203 | 2,142,602 |
| Areas with recorded lending | 1 | — |
| Lenders active in the state | 79 | — |
Is SBA lending in District of Columbia growing or shrinking?
Shrinking, along with almost every other state. Comparing December 2025 to June 2026 with December 2024 to June 2025, the same months a year earlier, 7(a) approvals to businesses in District of Columbia went from 87 to 73 loans, down 16.1% — while the dollars approved went from $46.0 million to $31.0 million, down 32.5%. The average approval fell from $528,195 to $424,739, so the change is weighted toward smaller loans.
That puts District of Columbia mid-table — 16th of 51 for year-on-year change, against a national decline of 21.0%.
| Fiscal year | Loans in District of Columbia | Loans nationally | State share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 108 | 51,747 | 0.2% |
| FY2024 | 130 | 62,618 | 0.2% |
| FY2025 | 147 | 64,096 | 0.2% |
| FY2026 (part year) | 84 | 35,641 | 0.2% |
Which lenders actually fund businesses in District of Columbia
Ranked by loans approved inside District of Columbia. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own District of Columbia loans, not its national averages — the same bank often writes very different business from one state to the next.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 111 | $65,000 | 33% | 11.25% |
| TD Bank | 44 | $50,000 | 32% | 11.50% |
| Newtek Bank | 27 | $350,000 | 11% | 10.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 26 | $106,750 | 8% | 11.25% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 22 | $350,000 | 18% | 10.50% |
| Hanmi Bank | 15 | $904,000 | 7% | 9.50% |
What stands out about District of Columbia
Reading the state's own figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $170,000 is 13% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- Startup share is close to average, at 32.2% against 33.6% nationally.
- Rates run higher here. The median initial rate of 10.75% is 0.50 points above the 10.25% national median. Most 7(a) lending is variable-rate, so treat this as a comparison between markets, not a quote.
Who borrows in District of Columbia
The industry mix of SBA borrowers here, led by professional services.
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | To startups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Services | 94 | 20.0% | $150,000 | 17% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 88 | 18.8% | $251,350 | 56% |
| Retail | 82 | 17.5% | $236,250 | 28% |
| Healthcare | 48 | 10.2% | $150,000 | 21% |
| Personal Services | 45 | 9.6% | $190,000 | 47% |
| Construction | 28 | 6.0% | $230,000 | 32% |
SBA 504 in District of Columbia
7(a) is the general-purpose program. 504 is the one for buying the building or the heavy equipment, at a long fixed rate — a different program with its own lenders, called Certified Development Companies.
| Measure | District of Columbia 504 | National 504 |
|---|---|---|
| Projects approved | 18 | 22,192 |
| Median CDC share | $1,024,000 | $730,000 |
| Median total project | $2,185,250 | $1,642,000 |
| Median term | 25 years | 25 years |
- Which CDCs operate here, and on what terms: SBA 504 in District of Columbia
- How the two programs differ: SBA 504 loans and SBA 7(a) loans
How to use this page
- Start from the lender table, not a search engine. Shortlist three whose median loan in District of Columbia is near what you need. Size match beats brand.
- Follow your industry link in the sector table for the lenders that fund your kind of business in this state specifically.
- Then your county, if it is listed, for the local picture.
- Check the payment before you apply with the affordability calculator — lenders decline on cash flow more than on anything else.
- Filter the whole lender file yourself in the lender finder if you want to combine state, industry, loan size and business age at once.
Other states
- States of comparable lending volume: South Dakota, North Dakota, Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, California, Florida
Questions people actually ask
How many SBA loans are approved in District of Columbia each year?
469 SBA 7(a) loans were approved to businesses in District of Columbia across fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026, worth $208.0 million in total. Over the most recent comparable months the number of approvals ran down 16.1% year on year, while the dollars approved ran down 32.5%.
Which bank approves the most SBA loans in District of Columbia?
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, with 111 loans approved to businesses in the state and a median loan of $65,000. That makes it the most active, not necessarily the best fit — a lender whose median is far from your number is usually the wrong call.
Do I have to use a lender based in District of Columbia?
No. SBA lenders routinely lend across state lines and several of the largest are non-bank lenders with no branches at all. What the state data tells you is which institutions are already comfortable with businesses like yours here.