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County6th of 24 in Maryland by approvalsFIPS 24027
SBA loans in Howard County, Maryland
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 Howard County, Maryland, received 450 SBA loan approvals worth $211M in FY2021 to FY2025 (434 7(a), 16 504).
That is 44.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (10,050 establishments in 2023), above the Maryland figure of 37.3 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 6th of 24 Maryland counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 132, up 45% on FY2024.
69 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (174), TD Bank, National Association (22) and Fulton Bank, National Association (19). 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 Howard County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 69 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust CompanyBuffalo, NY | 174 | $21.3M | 38.7% | |
| 2 | TD Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 22 | $8.1M | 4.9% | |
| 3 | Fulton Bank, National AssociationLancaster, PA | 19 | $11.6M | 4.2% | |
| 4 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 19 | $3.3M | 4.2% | |
| 5 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 16 | $2.5M | 3.6% | |
| 6 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 15 | $6.8M | 3.3% | |
| 7 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 13 | $7.9M | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 12 | $14.8M | 2.7% | |
| 9 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 12 | $8.3M | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Business Finance Group, Inc.Fairfax, VA · CDC | 11 | $24.9M | 2.4% | |
| 11 | Bank of America, National AssociationCharlotte, NC | 9 | $3.4M | 2.0% | |
| 12 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSBWilmington, DE | 8 | $6.0M | 1.8% | |
| 13 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 7 | $1.6M | 1.6% | |
| 14 | Hanmi BankLos Angeles, CA | 6 | $6.7M | 1.3% | |
| 15 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 6 | $910K | 1.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 43 | 9.6% | |
| 2 | Computer Systems Design and Related ServicesNAICS 5415 | 37 | 8.2% | |
| 3 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesNAICS 5416 | 22 | 4.9% | |
| 4 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 14 | 3.1% | |
| 5 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 14 | 3.1% | |
| 6 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 13 | 2.9% | |
| 7 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 13 | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 13 | 2.9% | |
| 9 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 12 | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related ServicesNAICS 5413 | 11 | 2.4% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 97 | 21.6% | |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 57 | 12.7% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 49 | 10.9% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 43 | 9.6% | |
| 5 | Construction | 41 | 9.1% | |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 32 | 7.1% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 27 | 6.0% | |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 20 | 4.4% |
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* | 81 | $30.3M | $150K | 1 | — | 82 | 634 |
| FY2025 | 126 | $43.4M | $150K | 6 | $5.6M | 132 | 1,290 |
| FY2024 | 89 | $36.4M | $150K | 2 | — | 91 | 1,105 |
| FY2023 | 71 | $30.3M | $100K | 1 | — | 72 | 1,069 |
| FY2022 | 67 | $28.9M | $225K | 3 | $9.2M | 70 | 1,268 |
| FY2021 | 81 | $42.1M | $200K | 4 | $8.0M | 85 | 937 |
| FY2020 | 57 | $23.8M | $175K | 6 | $7.6M | 63 | 867 |
| FY2019 | 47 | $17.1M | $100K | 4 | $2.6M | 51 | 477 |
| FY2018 | 95 | $30.4M | $125K | 1 | — | 96 | 1,012 |
| FY2017 | 79 | $24.6M | $150K | 1 | — | 80 | 1,034 |
| FY2016 | 75 | $21.1M | $150K | 3 | $2.8M | 78 | 1,016 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 368 approvals.
Against Maryland and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Howard County | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 450 | 5,330 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 44.8 | 37.3 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $150K | $138K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $1.6M | $866K | $657K |
| Average approval | $469K | $433K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 3.6% | 4.0% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 12.6 | 11.1 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 8.4% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less24.7%111
- $50,001 to $150,00024.0%108
- $150,001 to $350,00020.0%90
- $350,001 to $1 million20.0%90
- $1 million to $2 million5.6%25
- Over $2 million5.8%26
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old51.1%230
- New business, 2 years or less24.4%110
- Startup, loan funds will open the business17.6%79
- Change of ownership6.9%31
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Howard County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (174), TD Bank, National Association (22), Fulton Bank, National Association (19), Northeast Bank (19), BayFirst National Bank (16). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Howard County?
The median 7(a) approval was $150K and the median 504 approval $1.6M; the Maryland 7(a) median was $138K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Howard County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (43); Computer Systems Design and Related Services (37); Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (22); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (14); Services to Buildings and Dwellings (14).
Is SBA lending in Howard County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 295, against 218 in the three before: rising (+35%).
How does Howard County compare with the rest of Maryland?
44.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 37.3 statewide, and 450 of the state's 5,330 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