Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Santa Cruz County?
113 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Santa Cruz County recently, at a median of $216,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
113 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Santa Cruz County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $216,000. The most active lender was West Coast Community Bank, with 23 loans.
SBA lending in Santa Cruz County, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans that were actually approved to businesses in this county, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Santa Cruz County | California | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 113 | 24,947 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $216,000 | $205,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $77,500 - $529,500 | $75,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.25% | 10.35% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 19.5% | 25.6% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 3.9% | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 1,106 | 250,791 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Santa Cruz County. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own loans in this county, not its national averages.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast Community Bank | 23 | $204,000 | 4% | 10.25% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 9 | $150,000 | 22% | 10.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 8 | $148,500 | 12% | 10.38% |
| U.S. Bank | 7 | $30,000 | 14% | 10.24% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 6 | $25,000 | 83% | 13.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 5 | $250,000 | 80% | 9.00% |
| Grow America Fund, Incorporated | 4 | $655,000 | 0% | 9.75% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 4 | $350,000 | 0% | 9.40% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 3 | $350,000 | 0% | 9.99% |
| City National Bank | 3 | $400,000 | 33% | 7.76% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $216,000 is 44% 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.
- This is a hard market for new businesses. Only 20% of these loans went to startups, against 34% nationally. If you are pre-revenue, work from the startup table below rather than the main list.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 35% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 3.9% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Who borrows in Santa Cruz County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 16 | 14.2% |
| Healthcare | 15 | 13.3% |
| Retail | 12 | 10.6% |
| Professional Services | 10 | 8.8% |
| Construction | 10 | 8.8% |
| Personal Services | 9 | 8.0% |
| Trucking | 9 | 8.0% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 7.1% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan in this county is close to what you need. Size match matters more than brand.
- 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 your cash flow supports.
- Follow your sector link in the table above for lender data specific to your industry across California.
Other counties in California
- Nearby markets with published data: Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County