Lending data
Who actually lends to arts and recreation businesses in New Hampshire?
54 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in New Hampshire recently, at a median of $151,500. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
54 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in New Hampshire in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $151,500 over 10 years. The most active lender was TD Bank, with 11 loans.
What lending to arts and recreation businesses in New Hampshire 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 | Arts, entertainment, and recreation, New Hampshire | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 54 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $151,500 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $40,000 - $429,250 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 57.4% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 9.8% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to arts and recreation businesses in New Hampshire. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Bank | 11 | $32,000 | 27% | 10.75% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 6 | $175,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| Kennebunk Savings Bank | 5 | $153,000 | 60% | 8.23% |
| Bangor Savings Bank | 4 | $103,500 | 100% | 8.25% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 4 | $464,500 | 100% | 10.50% |
| St. Mary's Bank | 3 | $183,800 | 67% | 7.75% |
| Eastern Bank | 2 | $136,000 | 0% | 10.62% |
| Primary Bank | 2 | $826,850 | 100% | 7.62% |
| Savings Bank of Walpole | 2 | $100,000 | 0% | 8.88% |
| Beacon Bank and Trust | 2 | $582,500 | 100% | 10.88% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $151,500 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- New businesses do well here. 57% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 41% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 9.8% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 57.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 6 | $175,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| Bangor Savings Bank | 4 | $103,500 | 100% | 8.25% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 4 | $464,500 | 100% | 10.50% |
| TD Bank | 3 | $32,000 | 27% | 10.75% |
| Kennebunk Savings Bank | 3 | $153,000 | 60% | 8.23% |
| Primary Bank | 2 | $826,850 | 100% | 7.62% |
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 New Hampshire: construction, restaurants and hotels, personal services, retail, admin services, professional services
- Arts and Recreation in comparable states: Louisiana, Nebraska, Maine, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky