Business LendingBureau

Local lending data

Who lends to businesses in Dekalb County?

476 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Dekalb County recently, at a median of $300,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.

Reviewed and updated · How we research this

Short answer

476 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Dekalb County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $300,000. The most active lender was The Huntington National Bank, with 30 loans.

SBA lending in Dekalb 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.

SBA 7(a) approvals, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026. Charge-off rates use FY2010-FY2019 approvals only, because recent loans have not had time to season.
MeasureDekalb CountyGeorgiaNational
Loans approved4766,105214,102
Median loan$300,000$311,500$150,000
25th - 75th percentile$125,000 - $651,925$120,000 - $720,000$50,000 - $500,000
Median term10 years10 years10 years
Median initial rate10.25%10.25%10.25%
Share to startups34.5%40.1%33.6%
Charge-off rate, FY2010-197.4%7.6%7.1%
Jobs supported5,22268,0572,142,602

Which lenders actually funded them

Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Dekalb County. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own loans in this county, not its national averages.

SBA 7(a) lenders to businesses in Dekalb County, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026. Median loan, startup share, and median rate are that lender’s own loans in this market, not its national averages.
LenderLoansMedian loanStartup shareMedian rate
The Huntington National Bank30$307,50070%10.25%
Readycap Lending, LLC30$50,00023%13.50%
Newtek Bank30$200,00017%10.62%
United Midwest Savings Bank21$150,00086%10.25%
Celtic Bank Corporation20$150,0005%10.25%
Wells Fargo Bank18$15,00089%13.50%
SouthState Bank17$350,00035%10.25%
BayFirst National Bank17$150,0000%12.25%
Northeast Bank15$50,00013%10.75%
JPMorgan Chase Bank15$174,0000%13.30%

What stands out here

Reading these figures against the national picture:

  • Loans here run larger than average. The median of $300,000 is 100% 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 34% against 34% nationally.
  • Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 19% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.

Who borrows in Dekalb County

The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.

What kinds of businesses borrowed here, by share of SBA 7(a) loans. Each links through to lender data for that sector across all of Georgia.
SectorLoansShare
Restaurants and Hotels7215.1%
Healthcare5611.8%
Retail5411.3%
Personal Services5411.3%
Professional Services5210.9%
Construction388.0%
Admin Services316.5%
Wholesale285.9%

How to use this

  1. Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan in this county is close to what you need. Size match matters more than brand.
  2. Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year — see choosing an SBA lender.
  3. Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator, so you ask for a number your cash flow supports.
  4. Follow your sector link in the table above for lender data specific to your industry across Georgia.

Other counties in Georgia