Retail Trade
SBA Lenders for General Merchandise
Top lenders ranked by real SBA lending data for general merchandise nationwide.
What Borrowers Should Know
General Merchandise borrowers are getting better pricing than the national average. The median spread here is P+2.50%, which is 25 basis points lower than the national median of P+2.75%. With an average deal size of $354,832, this pricing advantage could save a typical borrower $887 annually in interest costs. This suggests either strong competition among the 394 active lenders in this space, or that general merchandise presents lower perceived risk to SBA lenders.
Wells Fargo dominates this category with 494 deals—representing 17% of all general merchandise SBA lending—but the market isn't concentrated around one player. The top 5 lenders account for 1,043 deals out of 2,958 total (35%), meaning two-thirds of lending comes from mid-sized and smaller lenders. This fragmentation is good for borrowers because it increases your options and negotiating power.
General Merchandise SBA lending is heavily concentrated in four states: California, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona account for 2,529 of 2,958 deals (85% of the market). If your business is outside these hot zones, you may face fewer active lenders and potentially stiffer pricing. The geographic concentration suggests regional demand differences—possibly tied to population density and retail footprint.
Total SBA Loans
13,621
Active Lenders
1,450
Avg Deal Size
$284K
Total Volume
$3.9B
General Merchandise SBA loans average $284K in deal size across 13,621 total loans. The median 7(a) spread in this segment is P + 2.45%.
Top Lenders for General Merchandise
Ranked by total deal count nationwide.
| # | Lender | Type | Deals | Avg Size | Spread | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | Bank | 1,197 | $236K | P + 3.05%ABOVE AVG | |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | Bank | 934 | $136K | P + 2.41%AVERAGE | |
| 3 | U.S. Bank, National Association | Bank | 640 | $215K | P + 2.38%AVERAGE | |
| 4 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | Bank | 601 | $204K | P + 2.49%AVERAGE | |
| 5 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | Bank | 378 | $105K | P + 2.34%AVERAGE | |
| 6 | TD Bank, National Association | Bank | 364 | $123K | P + 3.11%ABOVE AVG | |
| 7 | PNC Bank, National Association | Bank | 321 | $117K | P + 2.66%AVERAGE | |
| 8 | VelocitySBA, LLC | Bank | 216 | $12K | P + 4.41%HIGH | |
| 9 | Columbia Bank | Bank | 194 | $266K | P + 3.17%ABOVE AVG | |
| 10 | KeyBank National Association | Bank | 152 | $174K | P + 2.37%AVERAGE | |
| 11 | Celtic Bank Corporation | Bank | 149 | $213K | P + 2.89%ABOVE AVG | |
| 12 | Truist Bank | Bank | 147 | $283K | P + 2.53%AVERAGE | |
| 13 | Citizens Bank, National Association | Bank | 134 | $172K | P + 2.60%AVERAGE | |
| 14 | BayFirst National Bank | Bank | 129 | $247K | P + 2.83%ABOVE AVG | |
| 15 | Cadence Bank | Bank | 106 | $562K | P + 2.35%AVERAGE |
Top States for General Merchandise
Where general merchandise SBA lending is most active.