Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Tulare County?
155 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Tulare County recently, at a median of $320,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
155 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Tulare County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $320,000. The most active lender was Commonwealth Business Bank, with 11 loans.
SBA lending in Tulare 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 | Tulare County | California | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 155 | 24,947 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $320,000 | $205,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $120,400 - $722,500 | $75,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.00% | 10.35% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 27.7% | 25.6% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 3.5% | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 2,030 | 250,791 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Tulare 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Business Bank | 11 | $600,000 | 9% | 9.75% |
| Bank of America | 11 | $161,900 | 9% | 5.40% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 11 | $15,000 | 82% | 13.50% |
| Newtek Bank | 9 | $125,000 | 44% | 11.50% |
| U.S. Bank | 9 | $30,000 | 33% | 10.49% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $537,500 | 25% | 11.12% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 7 | $308,000 | 14% | 9.50% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7 | $563,900 | 43% | 9.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7 | $120,400 | 0% | 13.25% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 6 | $1,300,000 | 0% | 9.62% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $320,000 is 113% 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 28% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 21% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 3.5% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Who borrows in Tulare County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by retail.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 41 | 26.5% |
| Personal Services | 17 | 11.0% |
| Healthcare | 12 | 7.7% |
| Construction | 12 | 7.7% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 12 | 7.7% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 7.1% |
| Professional Services | 10 | 6.5% |
| Admin Services | 9 | 5.8% |
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