SBA loans by state
SBA loans in New Hampshire: 493 approvals in FY 2026, median $97,000
68% of loans went through SBA Express. Loans were small: the median was $97,000, against $220,000 nationally.
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New Hampshire: 7(a) loans approved last year
493
| Your rate vs. last year’s loans of this size, all states | about the median for this size |
| New Hampshire: median rate at approval, $50,001 to $250,000 | 9.50% |
| New Hampshire: median 7(a) loan last year | $97,000 |
| Payment over 10 years, SBA fee added to the loan | $1,304/mo |
Last year’s loans: the 7(a) loans SBA approved from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (fiscal year 2026), in SBA’s public loan file of September 30, 2026. Rates at approval were set when prime was 6.75% or 7.00%; today: prime rate 7.00% on November 2, 2026. Your rate is compared on its margin over prime, so the change in prime since last year does not count against you.
New Hampshire, FY 2026: 493 SBA 7(a) approvals for $171.2 million (29th of the 50 states and DC, SBA file of September 30, 2026). 68% of loans went through SBA Express. Loans were small: the median was $97,000, against $220,000 nationally. The state stood out for loans to site preparation contractors. Few loans ran past 15 years: 3%. 51% of approvals were revolving lines of credit. TD Bank alone made 25% of the loans. Start-ups took only 11% of approvals. Lenders kept most loans on their books. Franchises took only 8% of loans. Businesses under two years old took 22% of loans. Few approvals were cancelled, 9%. Borrowers were small teams, 7.7 jobs per loan. 24% of loans had a fixed rate, against 13% nationally. Today’s cap on a $97,000 variable loan: 13.00%.
Fee notices read and loan file counted by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
| Lender | FY 2026 loans | Median loan | Median variable rate | Lender’s home state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Bank | 123 | $33,000 | 8.74% | Delaware |
| M&T Bank | 76 | $52,000 | 9.88% | New York |
| Meredith Village Savings Bank | 27 | $71,000 | 8.75% | New Hampshire (in-state) |
| Merrimack County Savings Bank | 27 | $55,000 | 8.75% | New Hampshire (in-state) |
| Eastern Bank | 21 | $80,000 | n/a | Massachusetts |
Express is the main route
68% of New Hampshire’s loans were SBA Express, 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC. Among the busiest lenders, TD Bank, M&T Bank and Meredith Village Savings Bank made mostly Express loans. Most of these are small loans decided by the bank itself, on a 50% guaranty.
Among the smallest SBA loans in the country
A median of $97,000 makes New Hampshire’s loans 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC in size. 39% were for $50,000 or less, the band where SBA lets the rate reach prime plus 6.5 (13.50% today) and charges 2% on an 85% guaranty.
More common here than nationally: site preparation contractors
13 New Hampshire loans went to site preparation contractors, 4.2 times the national share for that trade. The most frequent trades overall were full-service restaurants, residential remodelers and landscaping services. Contractors borrow for trucks, tools and working capital more than for property, so their loans stay near 10 years and the margin steps for smaller loans matter most to them.
Short terms dominate
Only 3% of New Hampshire’s loans ran 15 years or more (13% nationally); the median term was 10 years. Loans under 15 years can be repaid early with no SBA fee.
| Loan size | Loans | Median variable rate, FY 2026 | SBA maximum today |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | 190 | 9.75% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | 189 | 9.50% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | 29 | 9.50% | 11.50% |
| over $350,000 | 85 | 8.25% | 10.00% |
A market for credit lines
Revolving lines were 51% of New Hampshire’s approvals, 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC. A business that needs cash for seasonal swings or receivables can ask for a line rather than a term loan; the cap on the rate is the same.
One lender stands out: TD Bank
TD Bank made 25% of New Hampshire’s approvals by itself, 123 loans with a median of $33,000 and a median variable rate of 8.74%. Across all its loans nationally, 0% of its variable loans were at the SBA cap.
Lending to going concerns
New Hampshire ranks 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC for start-up lending, with 11% of loans to businesses not yet open; 54% went to firms more than two years old.
Lenders keep their loans
Only 7% of New Hampshire’s loans had their guaranteed part sold on the secondary market (23% nationally); most lenders here hold what they make.
Counties with the most approvals: Hillsborough (149), Rockingham (138) and Merrimack (50). Trades: full-service restaurants (21), residential remodelers (19), landscaping services (18), limited-service restaurants (14) and site preparation contractors (13).
All states compared.