Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Chatham County?
163 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Chatham County recently, at a median of $313,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
163 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Chatham County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $313,000. The most active lender was Wells Fargo Bank, with 16 loans.
SBA lending in Chatham 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 | Chatham County | Georgia | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 163 | 6,105 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $313,000 | $311,500 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $118,100 - $900,000 | $120,000 - $720,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.25% | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 41.7% | 40.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 7.4% | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 1,883 | 68,057 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Chatham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank | 16 | $15,000 | 100% | 13.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 15 | $350,000 | 73% | 10.75% |
| Small Business Assistance Corporation | 14 | $206,250 | 29% | 9.00% |
| Newtek Bank | 13 | $100,000 | 38% | 11.50% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 8 | $1,100,000 | 38% | 8.88% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7 | $150,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 6 | $239,500 | 50% | 10.50% |
| SouthState Bank | 6 | $480,500 | 33% | 10.12% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 5 | $150,000 | 80% | 10.25% |
| Colony Bank | 5 | $342,000 | 40% | 11.00% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $313,000 is 109% 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.
- New businesses do well here. 42% 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 28% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Who borrows in Chatham County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 38 | 23.3% |
| Retail | 15 | 9.2% |
| Healthcare | 14 | 8.6% |
| Personal Services | 14 | 8.6% |
| Trucking | 14 | 8.6% |
| Construction | 14 | 8.6% |
| Admin Services | 12 | 7.4% |
| Arts and Recreation | 10 | 6.1% |
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 Georgia.
Other counties in Georgia
- Nearby markets with published data: Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Cobb County, Dekalb County, Forsyth County, Cherokee County, Henry County, Hall County