Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Milwaukee County?
531 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Milwaukee County recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
531 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Milwaukee County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000. The most active lender was The Huntington National Bank, with 85 loans.
SBA lending in Milwaukee 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 | Milwaukee County | Wisconsin | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 531 | 3,423 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $208,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $500,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.00% | 9.49% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 33.0% | 37.9% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 5.7% | 5.4% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 5,955 | 36,573 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Milwaukee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 85 | $70,000 | 36% | 10.25% |
| U.S. Bank | 56 | $38,750 | 34% | 9.49% |
| Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation | 50 | $150,000 | 64% | 9.25% |
| Old National Bank | 26 | $652,000 | 31% | 7.62% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 22 | $50,000 | 14% | 14.00% |
| Byline Bank | 18 | $1,415,000 | 33% | 10.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 16 | $275,000 | 19% | 11.50% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 14 | $118,950 | 0% | 12.75% |
| Associated Bank | 13 | $209,900 | 8% | 8.50% |
| Town Bank | 13 | $400,000 | 0% | 8.75% |
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 33% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 36% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Who borrows in Milwaukee County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 87 | 16.4% |
| Retail | 67 | 12.6% |
| Healthcare | 66 | 12.4% |
| Personal Services | 53 | 10.0% |
| Construction | 48 | 9.0% |
| Professional Services | 47 | 8.9% |
| Trucking | 42 | 7.9% |
| Manufacturing | 33 | 6.2% |
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 Wisconsin.
Other counties in Wisconsin
- Nearby markets with published data: Waukesha County, Dane County, Brown County, Outagamie County, Racine County, Saint Croix County, Sheboygan County, Eau Claire County