Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Ocean County?
670 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Ocean County recently, at a median of $141,500. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
Short answer
670 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Ocean County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $141,500. The most active lender was TD Bank, with 257 loans.
SBA lending in Ocean 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 | Ocean County | New Jersey | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 670 | 7,691 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $141,500 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $350,000 | $50,000 - $425,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 11.00% | 10.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 23.4% | 31.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 9.2% | 8.9% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 4,792 | 65,861 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Ocean 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Bank | 257 | $65,000 | 22% | 11.30% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 71 | $60,000 | 32% | 11.25% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 40 | $150,000 | 10% | 12.93% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 35 | $500,000 | 3% | 11.25% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 26 | $350,000 | 12% | 9.25% |
| FinWise Bank | 25 | $350,000 | 12% | 10.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 20 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 17 | $300,000 | 24% | 10.25% |
| PNC Bank | 13 | $50,000 | 69% | 10.15% |
| Newtek Bank | 13 | $150,000 | 0% | 11.50% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $141,500 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.
- 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. TD Bank alone made 38% of these loans, and the top three made 55%. 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 11.00% is 0.75 points above the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 9.2% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Who borrows in Ocean County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by construction.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 126 | 18.8% |
| Retail | 115 | 17.2% |
| Professional Services | 59 | 8.8% |
| Wholesale | 56 | 8.4% |
| Personal Services | 53 | 7.9% |
| Healthcare | 47 | 7.0% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 44 | 6.6% |
| Admin Services | 41 | 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 New Jersey.
Other counties in New Jersey
- Nearby markets with published data: Bergen County, Middlesex County, Essex County, Monmouth County, Union County, Hudson County, Morris County, Passaic County