Lending data
Who actually lends to farms and agricultural businesses in Georgia?
61 SBA 7(a) loans went to farms and agricultural businesses in Georgia recently, at a median of $805,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
61 SBA 7(a) loans went to farms and agricultural businesses in Georgia in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $805,000 over 20 years. The most active lender was Live Oak Banking Company, with 11 loans.
What lending to farms and agricultural businesses in Georgia actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Agriculture and farming, Georgia | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 61 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $805,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $150,000 - $2,115,300 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 20 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 39.3% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 4.8% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to farms and agricultural businesses in Georgia. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak Banking Company | 11 | $2,377,300 | 54% | 8.25% |
| First Financial Bank | 8 | $291,500 | 25% | 8.53% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 6 | $15,000 | 67% | 13.25% |
| Metro City Bank | 5 | $1,415,000 | 40% | 9.25% |
| Renasant Bank | 5 | $1,175,000 | 40% | 9.50% |
| Paragon Bank | 3 | $950,000 | 33% | 10.00% |
| First Port City Bank | 3 | $325,000 | 0% | 10.00% |
| Georgia's Own Credit Union | 2 | $856,500 | 100% | 9.38% |
| Old National Bank | 2 | $3,269,800 | 50% | 8.25% |
| First National Bank of Coffee County | 2 | $725,000 | 50% | 10.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $805,000 is 437% 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 about average, at 39% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 41% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.25% is 1.00 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 4.8% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
- Terms are long, at a median of 20 years, which almost always means real estate is securing a large share of these loans.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 39.3% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak Banking Company | 6 | $2,377,300 | 54% | 8.25% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 4 | $15,000 | 67% | 13.25% |
| Georgia's Own Credit Union | 2 | $856,500 | 100% | 9.38% |
| Metro City Bank | 2 | $1,415,000 | 40% | 9.25% |
| First Financial Bank | 2 | $291,500 | 25% | 8.53% |
| Renasant Bank | 2 | $1,175,000 | 40% | 9.50% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year. See choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator so you ask for a number the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Georgia: restaurants and hotels, retail, healthcare, personal services, professional services, construction
- Agriculture in comparable states: New York, Oregon, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio