Lending data
Who actually lends to schools and training businesses in Oregon?
42 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Oregon recently, at a median of $140,600. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
42 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Oregon in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $140,600 over 10 years. The most active lender was Columbia Bank, with 8 loans.
What lending to schools and training businesses in Oregon 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, Oregon | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 42 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $140,600 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $440,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 35.7% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 12.3% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to schools and training businesses in Oregon. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Bank | 8 | $50,000 | 0% | 11.75% |
| U.S. Bank | 4 | $26,950 | 50% | 8.66% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 4 | $132,050 | 50% | 11.20% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 3 | $212,000 | 67% | 11.00% |
| First Bank | 2 | $1,473,150 | 0% | 10.62% |
| Northwest Bank | 2 | $932,500 | 50% | 10.38% |
| Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC | 2 | $692,650 | 0% | 10.35% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 2 | $275,000 | 0% | 12.88% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 2 | $121,950 | 0% | 10.75% |
| Washington Trust Bank | 2 | $235,000 | 100% | 9.75% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $140,600 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 36% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 38% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- 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.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 12.3% 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.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 35.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 2 | $26,950 | 50% | 8.66% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 2 | $132,050 | 50% | 11.20% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 2 | $212,000 | 67% | 11.00% |
| Washington Trust Bank | 2 | $235,000 | 100% | 9.75% |
| Harborstone CU | 2 | $392,250 | 100% | 9.38% |
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 Oregon: construction, retail, restaurants and hotels, personal services, professional services, healthcare
- Education in comparable states: Wisconsin, Idaho, Nevada, Connecticut, Missouri, Indiana