Lending data
Who actually lends to schools and training businesses in Florida?
250 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Florida recently, at a median of $150,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
250 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Florida in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $150,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was TD Bank, with 32 loans.
What lending to schools and training businesses in Florida actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Educational services, Florida | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 250 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $498,500 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 34.4% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 8.6% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to schools and training businesses in Florida. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Bank | 32 | $33,600 | 25% | 11.28% |
| Newtek Bank | 26 | $162,500 | 31% | 11.12% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 23 | $15,000 | 87% | 12.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 22 | $150,000 | 14% | 11.25% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 18 | $254,000 | 61% | 10.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 13 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.25% |
| Bank of America | 10 | $500,000 | 20% | 8.43% |
| Northeast Bank | 8 | $68,750 | 25% | 10.62% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 7 | $100,000 | 14% | 12.90% |
| SouthState Bank | 6 | $265,000 | 17% | 10.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above 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 34% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 32% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 34.4% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank | 20 | $15,000 | 87% | 12.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 11 | $254,000 | 61% | 10.25% |
| TD Bank | 8 | $33,600 | 25% | 11.28% |
| Newtek Bank | 8 | $162,500 | 31% | 11.12% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 3 | $150,000 | 75% | 10.75% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 3 | $150,000 | 14% | 11.25% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- 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 the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Florida: construction, professional services, healthcare, personal services, restaurants and hotels, retail
- Education in comparable states: New York, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Georgia