Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Grafton County?
100 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Grafton County recently, at a median of $80,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
100 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Grafton County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $80,000. The most active lender was Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, with 23 loans.
SBA lending in Grafton 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 | Grafton County | New Hampshire | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 100 | 1,743 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $80,000 | $90,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $35,250 - $330,000 | $39,700 - $222,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.00% | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 26.0% | 30.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 3.0% | 5.3% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 999 | 12,524 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Grafton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor Bank & Trust | 23 | $67,000 | 44% | 8.15% |
| Meredith Village Savings Bank | 19 | $80,000 | 0% | 10.50% |
| Camden National Bank | 16 | $27,500 | 19% | 10.50% |
| Bank of New Hampshire | 7 | $67,500 | 29% | 7.75% |
| TD Bank | 4 | $40,000 | 25% | 12.15% |
| Ledyard National Bank | 4 | $307,000 | 50% | 7.23% |
| Citizens Bank | 3 | $500,000 | 100% | 9.40% |
| Service FCU | 2 | $66,500 | 0% | 8.02% |
| Colony Bank | 2 | $987,500 | 0% | 11.00% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 2 | $305,000 | 50% | 10.12% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run smaller than average. The median of $80,000 is 47% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, so budget for a rate above the headline range.
- Startup share is about average, at 26% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 58% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.00% is 1.25 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 3.0% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Who borrows in Grafton County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 25 | 25.0% |
| Retail | 18 | 18.0% |
| Construction | 15 | 15.0% |
| Healthcare | 7 | 7.0% |
| Admin Services | 7 | 7.0% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 5.0% |
| Real Estate | 4 | 4.0% |
| Agriculture | 4 | 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 New Hampshire.
Other counties in New Hampshire
- Nearby markets with published data: Rockingham County, Hillsborough County, Merrimack County, Strafford County, Belknap County, Carroll County