Lending data
Who actually lends to wholesale businesses in Iowa?
46 SBA 7(a) loans went to wholesale businesses in Iowa recently, at a median of $150,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
46 SBA 7(a) loans went to wholesale businesses in Iowa in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $150,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was U.S. Bank, with 8 loans.
What lending to wholesale businesses in Iowa 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 | Wholesale trade, Iowa | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 46 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $525,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 26.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 13.8% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to wholesale businesses in Iowa. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 8 | $27,500 | 50% | 11.12% |
| Community 1st CU | 3 | $75,000 | 33% | 6.29% |
| Lincoln Savings Bank | 3 | $324,000 | 0% | 11.25% |
| Nicolet National Bank | 3 | $869,600 | 33% | 11.00% |
| Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank | 3 | $240,000 | 0% | 10.50% |
| Farmers State Bank | 2 | $300,000 | 50% | 10.62% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 2 | $325,000 | 0% | 11.65% |
| Northeast Bank | 2 | $50,000 | 0% | 10.50% |
| Bankers Trust Company | 2 | $333,750 | 100% | 9.62% |
| Newtek Bank | 2 | $205,000 | 0% | 10.12% |
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 26% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 30% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.75% is 0.50 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 13.8% 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, 26.1% 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 | 4 | $27,500 | 50% | 11.12% |
| Bankers Trust Company | 2 | $333,750 | 100% | 9.62% |
| Arbor Bank | 2 | $124,900 | 100% | 7.62% |
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 Iowa: restaurants and hotels, construction, personal services, retail, healthcare, arts and recreation
- Wholesale in comparable states: New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Alabama, Kentucky