# Small business loans in Atlanta, GA

**Short answer:** The most active SBA lenders in Atlanta, GA since FY2024 are The Huntington National Bank (54 loans) and Newtek Bank (53). The median loan was $325,000, and half fell between $150,000 and $602,750. For free help, see the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. Source: SBA 7(a) loan data.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/atlanta/
Data as of: 2026-06-30

## Lenders making SBA loans in Atlanta

No lender made more than 9% of the loans in Atlanta, and The Huntington National Bank made the most. The five largest lenders together made 33%.

**Lenders with five or more SBA loans in Atlanta, GA, FY2024 to June 2026**

| Lender | Loans | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [The Huntington National Bank](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-express-lenders/the-huntington-national-bank/georgia/) | 54 | 9.1% |
| [Newtek Bank](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-express-lenders/newtek-bank/) | 53 | 8.9% |
| [Northeast Bank](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-express-lenders/northeast-bank/) | 34 | 5.7% |
| [Readycap Lending, LLC](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-express-lenders/readycap-lending-llc/): Non-bank lender | 30 | 5.0% |
| [Live Oak Banking Company](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-express-lenders/live-oak-banking-company/) | 24 | 4.0% |

Share is the percent of all Atlanta loans in that period. Each name links to that lender's page for Georgia where one exists.

## Local help near Atlanta

Atlanta borrowers can start with SBA's district office for Georgia, an SBDC or SCORE.

35% of Atlanta borrowers since FY2024 were startups or businesses two years old or younger. SBDCs provide counseling and training, and SCORE mentors give advice at no cost, according to SBA.

SBA has one district office for Georgia. Its page points to state and federal resources and to lenders in the area. The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center gives free counseling across Georgia.

- [SBA Georgia District Office (Atlanta): SBA district office](https://www.sba.gov/district/georgia)
- [University of Georgia Small Business Development Center: Small Business Development Center](https://georgiasbdc.org/)
- [SCORE mentors in Georgia: Business mentoring](https://www.score.org/ga/)

Alongside SBA loans, Georgia runs two loan programs. The [Georgia page](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/#loan-programs-in-georgia) describes each, and the official pages are linked here.

- [Georgia Loan Participation Program](https://dca.georgia.gov/financing-tools/small-business/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci/georgia-loan)
- [Georgia Small Business Credit Guaranty](https://dca.georgia.gov/financing-tools/small-business/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci/georgia-small-business)

## Loan counts and sizes in Atlanta

Atlanta ranks 1st by loans since FY2024 among the 21 Georgia cities with 100 or more SBA loans since FY2020. Nationally it is the 19th busiest of the 580 cities that reach 100 loans.

The 596 loans, 12.9% of the 4,607 in Georgia, were approved for $370.8 million in all. The median loan was $325,000, 2.2 times the national median of $150,300. Half of the loans fell between $150,000 and $602,750. The Atlanta median is 7% above the Georgia median of $303,000.

**Atlanta, GA compared with Georgia and the nation, loans from FY2024 to June 2026**

| Measure | Atlanta | Georgia | U.S. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Loans | 596 | 4,607 | 162,355 |
| Median loan | $325,000 | $303,000 | $150,300 |
| 25th percentile | $150,000 | $120,000 | $50,000 |
| 75th percentile | $602,750 | $714,500 | $500,000 |
| Via SBA Express | 16.4% | 14.6% | 35.8% |
| Lines of credit | 14.3% | 12.7% | 28.1% |
| Startups | 21.1% | 23.1% | 16.1% |
| Ownership changes | 10.2% | 11.9% | 10.4% |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median spread | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Charged off | 3.5% | 3.0% | 3.6% |

A quarter of loans were smaller than the 25th percentile loan and a quarter were larger than the 75th. Median spread is in percentage points over Prime. Charged off is the share of FY2020 to FY2022 loans a lender wrote off as a loss. It is shown only for groups of 30 loans or more. Fewer than 5 marks a share that would stand for 1 to 4 loans, which we do not publish. U.S. covers every loan in the file.

71% of the loans were $500,000 or less, the size SBA Express covers. 16.4% of all loans went through SBA Express, below the national 35.8%. Lines of credit were 14.3% of loans, below the national 28.1%.

SBA loans in Atlanta, GA by size, FY2024 to June 2026

- $50,000 or less (14%): 81
- $50,001 to $150,000 (21%): 123
- $150,001 to $350,000 (22%): 133
- $350,001 to $500,000 (14%): 84
- $500,001 to $1,000,000 (14%): 84
- $1,000,001 to $2,000,000 (8%): 47
- Over $2,000,000 (7%): 44

Labels show each size's share of all loans. The highlighted bar is the size band that contains the median.

By business age, 55.0% of loans went to businesses more than two years old and 13.4% to businesses two years old or younger. Startups received 21.1% and changes of ownership 10.2%. The national startup share is 16.1%.

SBA loans in Atlanta, GA by fiscal year

- FY2020: 123
- FY2021: 192
- FY2022: 139
- FY2023: 203
- FY2024: 216
- FY2025: 253
- FY2026 (through June 30): 127

Fiscal years run October to September. The last bar covers nine of its twelve months.

Volume rose 17% from FY2024 (216 loans) to FY2025 (253), the two latest full years. The busiest full year in the file was FY2025, with 253 loans. FY2026 already shows 127 loans through June 30.

Of the 454 loans Atlanta borrowers received in FY2020 to FY2022, 3.5% were charged off by June 30, 2026, against 3.6% nationally. Lenders reported 6,665 jobs supported across the 596 loans since FY2024, about 11.2 per loan. SBA does not audit these estimates.

## What businesses in Atlanta borrow for

Full-Service Restaurants was the largest borrower group in Atlanta, with 42 loans or 7.0% of the total.

The five largest industries made up 20% of all Atlanta loans. Offices of Lawyers stands out: its 16 loans are 2.7% of Atlanta loans, against 0.9% nationally, 3.0 times its national share.

**Industries with the most SBA loans in Atlanta, GA, FY2024 to June 2026**

| Industry | Loans | Share | U.S. share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Full-Service Restaurants](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/industries/full-service-restaurants/georgia/) | 42 | 7.0% | 4.6% |
| [Limited-Service Restaurants](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/industries/limited-service-restaurants/georgia/) | 27 | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| [Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/industries/fitness-recreational-sports-centers/georgia/) | 22 | 3.7% | 2.1% |
| [Offices of Lawyers](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/industries/offices-of-lawyers/georgia/) | 16 | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| [Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/industries/administrative-management-general-management-consulting-services/) | 14 | 2.3% | 0.9% |

Share is the percent of all Atlanta loans in that period. Industry is the NAICS code on each loan. A name links to the Georgia page for that industry where one exists.

## A typical loan payment in Atlanta

The median Atlanta loan was $325,000 with a median term of 10 years.

The median variable-rate loan in Atlanta was priced at Prime plus 2.75 percentage points at approval. At today's Prime that spread works out to 9.75%. On $325,000 over 10 years, principal and interest would come to about $4,250 a month. That is arithmetic on past loans, not a rate a lender is offering.

**Payment at today's rate on three Atlanta loan sizes over 10 years**

| Loan | Amount | Monthly payment |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 25th percentile loan | $150,000 | $1,962 |
| Median loan | $325,000 | $4,250 |
| 75th percentile loan | $602,750 | $7,882 |

Principal and interest only. Fees, a different term or a fixed rate change the payment. This is an illustration from SBA's file, not an offer.

SBA's rate ceiling for this loan size

SBA's maximum for a loan of $325,000 is Prime plus 4.5 percentage points, or 11.50% today. The median variable-rate loan here was priced 1.8 points under that ceiling. Source: 13 CFR § 120.214(d)(3); SOP 50 10 8.1, App. 18, Para. A.2 (p. 395).

Atlanta loans approved since FY2024 had a median starting rate of 10.25% at approval, matching the national median. Prime changed during those years, so use the spread above, not that rate, as the guide to today's cost.

Run your own numbers: [payments on a $350,000 loan](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/loan-amounts/350000-business-loan/) and [SBA Express payment calculator](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-express-payment-calculator/).

## SBA 504 loans near Atlanta

Atlanta has 41 SBA 504 loans since FY2024, with $70.9 million in SBA and CDC dollars.

The median 504 loan in Atlanta was $1,329,000 in SBA and CDC dollars, 27% of the $5,000,000 program maximum. The bank's share of each project is separate and is not counted in these figures.

Florida Business Development Corporation is the Certified Development Company (CDC) named on the most loans since FY2024, with 15. Capital Partners Certified Development Company follows with 12. The three CDCs listed are named on 34 loans between them.

**CDCs named on five or more 504 loans in Atlanta, FY2024 to June 2026**

| Certified Development Company | 504 loans |
| --- | --- |
| Florida Business Development Corporation | 15 |
| Capital Partners Certified Development Company | 12 |
| Small Business Access Partners, Inc. | 7 |

How a 504 loan is split

A standard 504 project is 50% third party lender, 40% CDC debenture, 10% borrower. 504 money pays for major fixed assets such as land, buildings and long-term machinery and equipment, not working capital or inventory. Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. B (p. 221). SBA keeps a [list of Certified Development Companies](https://www.sba.gov/loans/504-loans/list-of-certified-development-companies/).

## Georgia cities near Atlanta

Atlanta made up 12.9% of Georgia's SBA loans since FY2024.

Atlanta is one of 21 Georgia cities with 100 or more SBA loans since FY2020. The [Georgia page](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/) covers all 4,607 loans in Georgia. The closest come first, ranked by county and ZIP code on their loans.

- [Roswell: 98 loans, median $250,000](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/roswell/)
- [Alpharetta: 212 loans, median $350,000](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/alpharetta/)
- [McDonough: 75 loans, median $300,000](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/mcdonough/)
- [Woodstock: 75 loans, median $210,000](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/woodstock/)
- [Kennesaw: 76 loans, median $328,500](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/kennesaw/)
- [Gainesville: 48 loans, median $466,500](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/gainesville/)
- [Buford: 86 loans, median $325,000](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/buford/)
- [Canton: 61 loans, median $313,000](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/georgia-small-business-loans/canton/)

## Common questions about SBA loans in Atlanta

### Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Atlanta?

The Huntington National Bank leads with 54 loans in Atlanta since FY2024. Newtek Bank (53) and Northeast Bank (34) follow. Only lenders with five or more Atlanta loans are counted.

### Which industries get SBA loans in Atlanta?

Full-Service Restaurants leads with 42 loans in Atlanta since FY2024. Limited-Service Restaurants (27) and Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (22) follow.

How to read this

Counts come from SBA's 7(a) loan-level data release, as of June 30, 2026. The file lists loans SBA approved. It does not list declined applications, so it cannot show approval odds. We do not publish any figure built on fewer than 5 loans. Location is the borrower's address in the file, and city names are as SBA recorded them. Recent means FY2024 through June 30, 2026. Charge-off rates use FY2020 to FY2022 loans, the only years old enough to have had time to go bad. Jobs supported are lender-reported estimates. [How we build these pages](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/method/).

## Sources

- [SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level data, as of June 30, 2026](https://data.sba.gov/dataset/7a-504-foia)
- [SBA, 504 loans](https://www.sba.gov/loans/504-loans/)
- [SBA, resource partners: SBDCs and SCORE](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/local-assistance/resource-partners/)
- [SBA Georgia District Office (Atlanta)](https://www.sba.gov/district/georgia)
- [University of Georgia Small Business Development Center](https://georgiasbdc.org/)
- [SCORE, Georgia](https://www.score.org/ga/)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. D.1 (p. 241); 13 CFR § 120.931](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. B (p. 221)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [sba.gov/loans/504-loans; SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. A, Ch. 3, Para. A (p. 51)](https://www.sba.gov/loans/504-loans/)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 2, Para. B.1 (p. 126)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [13 CFR § 120.214(d)(3); SOP 50 10 8.1, App. 18, Para. A.2 (p. 395)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.214)