Lending data
Who actually lends to finance and insurance businesses in California?
351 SBA 7(a) loans went to finance and insurance businesses in California recently, at a median of $267,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
351 SBA 7(a) loans went to finance and insurance businesses in California in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $267,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was Live Oak Banking Company, with 32 loans.
What lending to finance and insurance businesses in California 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 | Finance and insurance, California | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 351 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $267,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $126,000 - $518,500 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 11.7% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 3.8% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to finance and insurance businesses in California. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak Banking Company | 32 | $412,500 | 9% | 9.99% |
| U.S. Bank | 30 | $296,250 | 23% | 7.95% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 28 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 24 | $109,000 | 4% | 13.38% |
| Newtek Bank | 20 | $154,000 | 40% | 11.12% |
| Byline Bank | 12 | $480,000 | 25% | 10.25% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 12 | $300,000 | 0% | 10.12% |
| Bank of America | 11 | $465,000 | 0% | 6.48% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 11 | $150,000 | 0% | 13.00% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 11 | $110,000 | 9% | 11.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $267,000 is 78% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- This is a hard market for new businesses. Only 12% 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.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 26% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 3.8% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 11.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtek Bank | 8 | $154,000 | 40% | 11.12% |
| U.S. Bank | 7 | $296,250 | 23% | 7.95% |
| Byline Bank | 3 | $480,000 | 25% | 10.25% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 3 | $412,500 | 9% | 9.99% |
| Capital Bank | 2 | $200,000 | 50% | 11.00% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $754,500 | 20% | 10.25% |
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 California: retail, restaurants and hotels, professional services, construction, personal services, healthcare
- Finance in comparable states: Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania