Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Suffolk County?
525 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Suffolk County recently, at a median of $125,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
525 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Suffolk County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $125,000. The most active lender was Eastern Bank, with 152 loans.
SBA lending in Suffolk 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 | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 525 | 5,664 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $125,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $300,000 | $50,000 - $252,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 23.0% | 27.9% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 6.8% | 5.9% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 5,134 | 51,061 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Suffolk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Bank | 152 | $68,300 | 14% | 9.99% |
| TD Bank | 47 | $50,000 | 30% | 11.50% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 41 | $65,000 | 32% | 11.00% |
| Rockland Trust Company | 23 | $310,000 | 30% | 7.25% |
| Webster Bank | 20 | $172,500 | 25% | 9.88% |
| Beacon Bank and Trust | 18 | $144,000 | 17% | 9.75% |
| Newtek Bank | 18 | $187,500 | 17% | 10.50% |
| Leader Bank | 17 | $200,000 | 24% | 10.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 17 | $250,000 | 35% | 9.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 16 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.50% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run smaller than average. The median of $125,000 is 17% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, so budget for a rate above the headline range.
- This is a hard market for new businesses. Only 23% 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.
- One lender dominates. Eastern Bank alone made 29% of these loans, and the top three made 46%. That concentration usually means a lender with a dedicated program for this sector — worth starting there, but get a second quote so you know the terms are competitive.
Who borrows in Suffolk County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 95 | 18.1% |
| Professional Services | 84 | 16.0% |
| Retail | 71 | 13.5% |
| Construction | 55 | 10.5% |
| Personal Services | 50 | 9.5% |
| Admin Services | 32 | 6.1% |
| Healthcare | 29 | 5.5% |
| Trucking | 24 | 4.6% |
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 Massachusetts.
Other counties in Massachusetts
- Nearby markets with published data: Middlesex County, Essex County, Worcester County, Norfolk County, Plymouth County, Bristol County, Barnstable County, Hampden County