Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Baltimore City?
327 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Baltimore City recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
327 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Baltimore City in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000. The most active lender was Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, with 129 loans.
SBA lending in Baltimore City, 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 | Baltimore City | Maryland | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 327 | 3,875 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $350,000 | $45,000 - $350,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.75% | 10.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 34.9% | 39.4% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 7.8% | 8.1% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 4,015 | 40,219 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Baltimore City. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 129 | $51,000 | 43% | 11.25% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 19 | $160,000 | 5% | 11.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 17 | $150,000 | 6% | 13.25% |
| Fulton Bank | 13 | $350,000 | 54% | 10.00% |
| Newtek Bank | 10 | $300,000 | 20% | 10.75% |
| Northeast Bank | 9 | $85,800 | 11% | 11.25% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 8 | $20,000 | 88% | 13.50% |
| Univest Bank and Trust Co | 8 | $375,000 | 62% | 10.38% |
| TD Bank | 7 | $50,000 | 14% | 9.75% |
| Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC | 7 | $418,900 | 29% | 9.10% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $150,000 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- Startup share is about average, at 35% against 34% nationally.
- One lender dominates. Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company alone made 39% of these loans, and the top three made 50%. 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.
- Rates run higher here. The median initial rate of 10.75% is 0.50 points above the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
Who borrows in Baltimore City
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 57 | 17.4% |
| Professional Services | 52 | 15.9% |
| Healthcare | 45 | 13.8% |
| Retail | 44 | 13.5% |
| Personal Services | 39 | 11.9% |
| Construction | 18 | 5.5% |
| Trucking | 17 | 5.2% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 4.0% |
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 Maryland.
Other counties in Maryland
- Nearby markets with published data: Montgomery County, Baltimore County, Prince Georges County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Frederick County, Harford County, Carroll County