5. Byline Bank
Chicago-based Byline Bank lands in fifth place on our list, with $286.2 million in approved SBA 7(a) loans through the end of June. This figure includes 251 individual loans with an average principal just north of $1.1 million, far higher than the loan product’s average this year.
Byline has consistently originated significant small business lending, particularly for firms with a focus on exports. The Small Business Administration recognized Byline Bank as the International Trade Lender of the Year for 2021, owing to $37 million in financing last year through SBA’s International Trade Loan Program.
4. Celtic Bank
Celtic Bank Corp., takes fourth place, with 490 loans totaling $470.8 million in the first three quarters of SBA’s 2022 fiscal year. The Salt Lake City-based lender offers a wide variety of financing options, from the range of SBA loan products to specialty offerings like renewable energy loans.
Though founded relatively recently in 2001, Celtic Bank has made it onto SBA’s top 10 lender list for nearly a decade. The institution provides both 7(a) and 504 loans, though the latter makes up a significantly smaller portion of its activity. SBA data indicates Celtic’s 504 loan volume this fiscal year was $9.2 million across three loans at the end of June.
3. The Huntington National Bank
In third place, The Huntington National Bank’s approved loan volume totaled $648.2 million at the end of June. The lender took the top spot in terms of the number of loans, though. With an incredible 3,962 7(a) loans approved, the bank more than doubles next-place TD Bank’s 1,513 loans.
Founded in 1866, the Columbus, Ohio-based lender has more than 1,000 branches in 11 states. The regional institution has $177 billion in assets and offers personal banking in addition to its extensive small business services. In 2021, Huntington was the largest originator of SBA 7(a) loans by volume. At that time, CEO Steve Steinour was considering expanding its SBA lending operations beyond its current regional presence.
2. NewTek Small Business Finance
The second-largest SBA 7(a) lender so far this year, NewTek has 1,159 loans approved with a combined principal of $717.8 million. The average loan size comes in at just under $620,000, 16.2% above the SBA 7(a) average across all lenders.
The firm’s activity is growing, according to a press release put out at the start of July. NewTek Small Business Finance funded $200.6 million in SBA 7(a) loans in the second quarter this year, a more than 110% increase compared to the second quarter of 2021.
1. Live Oak Bank
The biggest SBA 7(a) lender of 2022 is Live Oak Bank. The Wilmington, N.C.-based institution commenced operations in 2008 — the youngest bank on our list — yet has consistently placed near the top of the list for the past several years. This year, Live Oak already has $1.2 billion across 845 approved SBA 7(a) loans. That’s 67% higher than NewTek in second place.
Live Oak’s performance last year was nothing short of impressive, too. The Motley Fool reported the bank closed $2.3 billion in SBA loans, far beyond second- and third-place Huntington and NewTek.
