States › California › Merced County
County31st of 58 in California by approvalsFIPS 06047
SBA loans in Merced County, California
7(a) and 504 approvals to businesses located in the county, set against the number of businesses there and against the state.
SBA approvals by fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs 1 October to 30 September, so FY2025 is 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. *FY2026 is open: approvals to 30 Jun 2026 only.
Businesses in Merced County, California, received 137 SBA loan approvals worth $131M in FY2021 to FY2025 (109 7(a), 28 504).
That is 38.1 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (3,592 establishments in 2023), close to the California figure of 40.8 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 31st of 58 California counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 26, down 19% on FY2024.
52 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Success Capital Expansion & Development Corporation (8), Celtic Bank Corporation (7) and Enterprise Bank & Trust (6). The most common industry was restaurants and other eating places.
Loan status is as recorded by SBA at the data date; charge-off rates are computed on loans approved at least five fiscal years ago. Jobs supported are self-reported estimates from the SBA loan application, which SBA does not review, audit or validate. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Lenders most active in Merced County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 52 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Success Capital Expansion & Development CorporationModesto, CA · CDC | 8 | $6.0M | 5.8% | |
| 2 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 7 | $11.3M | 5.1% | |
| 3 | Enterprise Bank & TrustClayton, MO | 6 | $9.6M | 4.4% | |
| 4 | Business Finance CapitalLos Angeles, CA · CDC | 6 | $4.0M | 4.4% | |
| 5 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 6 | $1.4M | 4.4% | |
| 6 | Mortgage Capital Development CorporationOakland, CA · CDC | 5 | $13.8M | 3.6% | |
| 7 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 5 | $3.8M | 3.6% | |
| 8 | Bank of America, National AssociationCharlotte, NC | 5 | $1.1M | 3.6% | |
| 9 | Fresno Community Development Financial Institution dba Access Plus CapitalFresno, CA | 5 | $967K | 3.6% | |
| 10 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 5 | $765K | 3.6% | |
| 11 | Lendistry SBLC, LLCLos Angeles, CA | 5 | $387K | 3.6% | |
| 12 | Open BankLos Angeles, CA | 4 | $7.9M | 2.9% | |
| 13 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 4 | $5.1M | 2.9% | |
| 14 | Cen Cal Business Finance GroupFresno, CA · CDC | 4 | $1.2M | 2.9% | |
| 15 | Community West BankFresno, CA | 4 | $987K | 2.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 16 | 11.7% | |
| 2 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4471 | 8 | 5.8% | |
| 3 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 8 | 5.8% | |
| 4 | Grocery StoresNAICS 4451 | 8 | 5.8% | |
| 5 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 8 | 5.8% | |
| 6 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 7 | 5.1% | |
| 7 | Grocery and Related Product Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4244 | 6 | 4.4% | |
| 8 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 4 | 2.9% | |
| 9 | Furniture and Home Furnishings RetailersNAICS 4491 | 3 | 2.2% | |
| 10 | Automobile DealersNAICS 4411 | 3 | 2.2% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 41 | 29.9% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 27 | 19.7% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 11 | 8.0% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 10 | 7.3% | |
| 5 | Construction | 10 | 7.3% | |
| 6 | Wholesale Trade | 9 | 6.6% | |
| 7 | Transportation and Warehousing | 9 | 6.6% | |
| 8 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 5 | 3.6% |
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) approvals | 7(a) dollars | Median 7(a) | 504 approvals | 504 dollars | All approvals | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 24 | $13.8M | $288K | 7 | $9.8M | 31 | 333 |
| FY2025 | 19 | $12.0M | $150K | 7 | $11.7M | 26 | 331 |
| FY2024 | 29 | $31.3M | $356K | 3 | $3.7M | 32 | 274 |
| FY2023 | 21 | $18.1M | $400K | 4 | $2.7M | 25 | 227 |
| FY2022 | 14 | $11.1M | $283K | 8 | $10.3M | 22 | 194 |
| FY2021 | 26 | $27.0M | $563K | 6 | $3.1M | 32 | 311 |
| FY2020 | 13 | $17.6M | $653K | 2 | — | 15 | 299 |
| FY2019 | 16 | $12.1M | $294K | 6 | $3.3M | 22 | 179 |
| FY2018 | 19 | $13.8M | $100K | 1 | — | 20 | 103 |
| FY2017 | 37 | $17.1M | $150K | 6 | $4.9M | 43 | 575 |
| FY2016 | 52 | $25.4M | $150K | 3 | $6.9M | 55 | 493 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 155 approvals.
Against California and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Merced County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 137 | 42,016 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 38.1 | 40.8 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $320K | $250K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $610K | $884K | $657K |
| Average approval | $956K | $733K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 20.4% | 17.2% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 9.8 | 11.0 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.3% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less13.1%18
- $50,001 to $150,00014.6%20
- $150,001 to $350,00019.0%26
- $350,001 to $1 million21.9%30
- $1 million to $2 million14.6%20
- Over $2 million16.8%23
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old63.5%87
- New business, 2 years or less16.1%22
- Startup, loan funds will open the business12.4%17
- Change of ownership8.0%11
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Merced County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Success Capital Expansion & Development Corporation (8), Celtic Bank Corporation (7), Enterprise Bank & Trust (6), Business Finance Capital (6), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (6). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Merced County?
The median 7(a) approval was $320K and the median 504 approval $610K; the California 7(a) median was $250K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Merced County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (16); Gasoline Stations (8); Traveler Accommodation (8); Grocery Stores (8); General Freight Trucking (8).
Is SBA lending in Merced County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 83, against 69 in the three before: rising (+20%).
How does Merced County compare with the rest of California?
38.1 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 40.8 statewide, and 137 of the state's 42,016 approvals.
About these figures
Figures are totals of the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, data through 30 Jun 2026. SBA updates the files quarterly. Counts are loan approvals, including approvals later cancelled; the five-year window is FY2021–FY2025, the five latest complete fiscal years. Charge-off rates use only loans approved in FY2010–FY2021, at least five fiscal years ago, and count disbursed loans SBA records as charged off. Loans are listed under the lender they are assigned to today. Establishment counts are from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns 2023, which leaves out most farms, government and businesses without employees. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error