Lenders approved 1,497 SBA 7(a) loans worth $441M for New Hampshire businesses in fiscal years 2024 through 2026, net of cancellations. That ranks 30th of 52 by number of loans and 37th by dollars. The median loan was $95K at a median starting rate of 9.75%. In FY2026 alone, lenders approved 493 New Hampshire loans for $171M before cancellations.
What stands out in New Hampshire
SBA Express is the main channel
67.3% of New Hampshire's 7(a) loans were made through SBA Express, against 35.8% nationally. Express loans are capped at $500,000 and the lender makes the credit decision itself, so they move faster but are smaller. The median New Hampshire loan was $95K (national median $175K).
Administrative and support services stands out
Administrative and support services accounted for 10.7% of New Hampshire's 7(a) loans (160 loans), 1.8 times its 6.1% national share. The median administrative and support services loan in New Hampshire was $78K at a median rate of 10.00%.
One lender dominates
TD Bank, National Association approved 374 of New Hampshire's 1,497 SBA 7(a) loans in FY2024 to FY2026, a 25.0% share. The top three lenders together made 41.3%. For comparison, the largest 7(a) lender nationally, The Huntington National Bank, holds 10.3% of all loans. When one bank makes this many of a state's loans, its pricing and credit appetite set the tone, so a second quote is worth getting.
Smaller loans than average
The median 7(a) loan in New Hampshire was $95K, below the national median of $175K. 67.8% of New Hampshire loans were $150,000 or less (49.0% nationally) and 6.8% were $1 million or more (13.6% nationally).
Lower rates than average
The median starting rate on New Hampshire 7(a) loans was 9.75%, against 10.25% nationally, and 27.7% of loans carried a fixed rate (13.6% nationally). SBA caps the spread a lender can charge over the base rate, and smaller loans are allowed higher spreads, so a state's loan-size mix moves its median rate.
Few franchise loans
Franchise businesses took 5.2% of New Hampshire's 7(a) loans, against 11.0% nationally.
What a typical New Hampshire SBA loan looks like
| FY2024-FY2026, not cancelled | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $95K | $175K |
| Average loan | $295K | $508K |
| Median starting rate | 9.75% | 10.25% |
| Variable-rate loans | 72.3% | 86.4% |
| Median term | 120 months | 120 months |
| Loans of $150K or less | 67.8% | 49.0% |
| Loans of $500K or less | 89.4% | 76.9% |
| Loans of $1M or more | 6.8% | 13.6% |
| Startups (loan opens the business) | 10.0% | 16.1% |
| Startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 30.5% | 32.0% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 10.3% | 10.9% |
| Franchise businesses | 5.2% | 11.0% |
| SBA Express loans | 67.3% | 35.8% |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 10,380 | 1,733,816 |
Industries that borrow most in New Hampshire
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 327 | 21.8% | $80K | 10.00% |
| Restaurants and hotels | 168 | 11.2% | $100K | 9.50% |
| Administrative and support services | 160 | 10.7% | $78K | 10.00% |
| Other services (repair, personal care) | 154 | 10.3% | $60K | 10.00% |
| Retail | 150 | 10.0% | $100K | 9.50% |
| Professional services | 118 | 7.9% | $95K | 10.00% |
| Health care | 96 | 6.4% | $96K | 9.50% |
| Manufacturing | 89 | 5.9% | $150K | 9.00% |
New Hampshire SBA 7(a) loans by fiscal year
SBA fiscal years run October to September, so FY2026 covers October 2025 through September 2026. "Approved" counts every loan SBA guaranteed, the basis of SBA's own published totals; "not cancelled" drops loans that were later cancelled before or after funding. FY2026 loans are recent, so some of them may still be cancelled.
| FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 587 | 605 | 493 |
| Dollars approved | $130M | $196M | $171M |
| Loans not cancelled | 529 | 518 | 450 |
| Median loan | $75K | $100K | $90K |
| Median rate | 10.75% | 10.00% | 8.75% |
| Loans of $150K or less | 72.6% | 65.3% | 65.1% |
| SBA Express share | 69.2% | 63.9% | 68.9% |
FY2026 approvals in New Hampshire changed by −18.5% from FY2025; nationally the change was −28.1%. See why SBA lending fell in FY2026.
Top SBA 7(a) lenders in New Hampshire
| Lender | Loans | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. TD Bank, National Association | 374 | 25.0% |
| 2. Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 139 | 9.3% |
| 3. Meredith Village Savings Bank | 105 | 7.0% |
| 4. Eastern Bank | 68 | 4.5% |
| 5. Merrimack County Savings Bank | 60 | 4.0% |
| 6. Rockland Trust Company | 50 | 3.3% |
| 7. St. Mary's Bank | 47 | 3.1% |
| 8. Camden National Bank | 45 | 3.0% |
| 9. Bangor Savings Bank | 37 | 2.5% |
| 10. Live Oak Banking Company | 35 | 2.3% |
Where in New Hampshire the loans go
| County | Loans |
|---|---|
| Rockingham | 425 |
| Hillsborough | 411 |
| Merrimack | 153 |
| Strafford | 131 |
| Belknap | 101 |
| Carroll | 90 |
| Grafton | 83 |
| Cheshire | 69 |
| City | Loans |
|---|---|
| Manchester | 96 |
| Nashua | 77 |
| Portsmouth | 61 |
| Concord | 49 |
| Dover | 42 |
| Rochester | 41 |
| Londonderry | 37 |
| Salem | 35 |
Counts only, and only places with at least 10 loans. No individual businesses are listed.
SBA 504 loans in New Hampshire
The SBA 504 program finances owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment. A certified development company (CDC) lends up to 40% of the project with an SBA-backed debenture, a bank typically lends about 50%, and the business puts in the rest. The amounts below are the CDC portion.
| New Hampshire | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 504 loans, FY2024-FY2026 (not cancelled) | 196 | 18,076 |
| 504 dollars | $115M | $20.82B |
| Median 504 loan | $347K | $742K |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 1,620 | 190,338 |
| Most active CDCs | 504 loans |
|---|---|
| Granite State Economic Development Corporation | 132 |
| Bay Colony Development Corporation | 33 |
| Capital Regional Development Council | 23 |
How older loans performed
Of the 676 SBA 7(a) loans approved for New Hampshire businesses in FY2020 and FY2021 (not cancelled), 16 had been charged off by September 30, 2026: 2.4% by count and 0.5% of dollars approved. The national figures are 3.7% and 1.0%. Loans from these years have had five to seven years to season, so they say more about losses than recent loans do.
SBA district office for New Hampshire
New Hampshire loans are overseen by the SBA New Hampshire District Office. District offices do not make loans; they support lenders and borrowers and point businesses to local resource partners. Contact details are on SBA's local assistance page.
Comparing SBA and other funding in New Hampshire
An SBA loan is often the cheapest long-term money a small business can get, but approval takes weeks and the 2025 and 2026 rule changes narrowed who qualifies. FSE (Funding Solutions Experts) is an independent commercial finance brokerage. We are not an SBA lender and are not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration; one application lets us compare SBA and non-SBA options from our funding partners side by side.
- No fee to your business: we are paid a commission by the funding partner.
- No credit check to apply.
- To be considered, a business generally needs at least 1 year in business and $10,000 or more in monthly revenue.
Read what an SBA loan is and how the programs work or our SBA and term loans guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many SBA loans were made in New Hampshire?
Lenders approved 587 SBA 7(a) loans for New Hampshire businesses in FY2024, 605 in FY2025 and 493 in FY2026, before cancellations. Net of cancelled loans, the three years total 1,497 loans worth $441M, plus 196 SBA 504 loans worth $115M.
Which banks make the most SBA loans in New Hampshire?
In FY2024 to FY2026 the most active 7(a) lenders in New Hampshire were TD Bank, National Association (374 loans, 25.0%), Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (139 loans, 9.3%), Meredith Village Savings Bank (105 loans, 7.0%).
What is the typical SBA loan size and rate in New Hampshire?
The median 7(a) loan in New Hampshire was $95K and the average was $295K. The median starting interest rate was 9.75%, 72.3% of loans had a variable rate, and the median term was 120 months.
Source and method
Figures come from the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files (as of September 30, 2026), aggregated by FSE. Loans are assigned to New Hampshire by project state. Profile figures cover FY2024-FY2026 loans that were not cancelled. We publish aggregates only: no borrower names or addresses, and no figure based on fewer than 10 loans. Full details are in the methodology, and every state's figures can be downloaded as CSV.
Compare nearby states by volume: Nevada, Puerto Rico, Kentucky, Louisiana, or see all states.