Lending data
Who actually lends to media and information businesses in Washington?
41 SBA 7(a) loans went to media and information businesses in Washington recently, at a median of $200,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
41 SBA 7(a) loans went to media and information businesses in Washington in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $200,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was Columbia Bank, with 5 loans.
What lending to media and information businesses in Washington 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 | Information and media, Washington | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 41 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $200,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $475,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 17.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 2.7% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to media and information businesses in Washington. 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 | 5 | $50,000 | 20% | 13.00% |
| Northeast Bank | 4 | $87,500 | 0% | 11.12% |
| Banner Bank | 4 | $126,850 | 25% | 9.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 4 | $275,000 | 25% | 11.00% |
| U.S. Bank | 4 | $59,050 | 50% | 9.49% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 3 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.25% |
| KeyBank | 3 | $273,600 | 67% | 9.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 2 | $285,000 | 0% | 10.50% |
| Truliant FCU | 2 | $650,050 | 0% | 9.88% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $200,000 is 33% 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 17% 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 32% 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 2.7% 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, 17.1% 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 | $59,050 | 50% | 9.49% |
| KeyBank | 2 | $273,600 | 67% | 9.50% |
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 Washington: construction, restaurants and hotels, retail, healthcare, personal services, professional services
- Media in comparable states: Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Oregon