SBA Express lending in California: what SBA's data shows
Lenders made 3,391 SBA Express loans to California businesses in FY2025 and FY2026 through June 30, 2026, worth $372.9 million. The median loan was $50,000, against $50,000 nationally, and 61.8% were lines of credit. Volume fell 9% from FY2024 (2,263 loans) to FY2025 (2,056).
In that window, 75 lenders made at least one SBA Express loan in California. 69.5% of loans went to businesses more than two years old, and 110 financed a change of ownership. The most common industries were full-service restaurants (157), residential remodelers (110), plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors (90).
| Top lenders in California | Loans |
|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 1,289 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 444 |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 208 |
| The Huntington National Bank | 195 |
| Columbia Bank | 193 |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA loan-level data, as of June 30, 2026. Loans SBA approved and later cancelled are excluded. Fiscal years run October through September. Window: FY2025 and FY2026 through June 30, 2026.
See how California compares on SBA Express loan statistics, or browse all SBA Express lenders.
California Small Business
Small businesses make up a large part of California's economy. Small Business Administration statistics, as published in the SBA Office of Advocacy state profiles, show that there are around 3.8 million small businesses in California, making up 99.8% of all California-based businesses.
With a workforce of no less than 6.8 million employees, small businesses thrive in the Golden State.
SBA Express loans are made by private lenders. The data above shows which lenders actually made them to California businesses. If you would rather not apply lender by lender, tell us what your business needs: we route your inquiry to SBA lending partners and the lender makes the credit decision.
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