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County9th of 67 in Pennsylvania by approvalsFIPS 42011
SBA loans in Berks County, Pennsylvania
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 Berks County, Pennsylvania, received 318 SBA loan approvals worth $181M in FY2021 to FY2025 (283 7(a), 35 504).
That is 37.3 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (8,521 establishments in 2023), close to the Pennsylvania figure of 36.7 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 9th of 67 Pennsylvania counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 94, up 34% on FY2024.
56 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (60), South Eastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania (31) and Wells Fargo Bank National Association (15). 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 Berks County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 56 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust CompanyBuffalo, NY | 60 | $6.3M | 18.9% | |
| 2 | South Eastern Economic Development Company of PennsylvaniaExton, PA · CDC | 31 | $28.1M | 9.7% | |
| 3 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 15 | $200K | 4.7% | |
| 4 | Customers BankMalvern, PA | 14 | $17.7M | 4.4% | |
| 5 | Fulton Bank, National AssociationLancaster, PA | 13 | $10.7M | 4.1% | |
| 6 | Community First Capital CorpLancaster, PA | 12 | $1.9M | 3.8% | |
| 7 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 12 | $1.5M | 3.8% | |
| 8 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 11 | $1.6M | 3.5% | |
| 9 | Univest Bank and Trust CoSouderton, PA | 9 | $10.0M | 2.8% | |
| 10 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 9 | $643K | 2.8% | |
| 11 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 8 | $11.5M | 2.5% | |
| 12 | Meridian BankMalvern, PA | 8 | $6.7M | 2.5% | |
| 13 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 8 | $1.1M | 2.5% | |
| 14 | Mid Penn BankMillersburg, PA | 7 | $10.4M | 2.2% | |
| 15 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSBWilmington, DE | 7 | $10.3M | 2.2% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 28 | 8.8% | |
| 2 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 24 | 7.5% | |
| 3 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 17 | 5.3% | |
| 4 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 11 | 3.5% | |
| 5 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 9 | 2.8% | |
| 6 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 9 | 2.8% | |
| 7 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 8 | 2.5% | |
| 8 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 7 | 2.2% | |
| 9 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 7 | 2.2% | |
| 10 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related ActivitiesNAICS 5242 | 7 | 2.2% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | 47 | 14.8% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 38 | 11.9% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 35 | 11.0% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 33 | 10.4% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 29 | 9.1% | |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 29 | 9.1% | |
| 7 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 26 | 8.2% | |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 19 | 6.0% |
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* | 39 | $17.4M | $150K | 4 | $5.6M | 43 | 421 |
| FY2025 | 85 | $42.3M | $146K | 9 | $9.7M | 94 | 705 |
| FY2024 | 63 | $25.2M | $150K | 7 | $2.8M | 70 | 486 |
| FY2023 | 50 | $23.0M | $122K | 7 | $4.0M | 57 | 518 |
| FY2022 | 44 | $27.1M | $198K | 5 | $4.5M | 49 | 725 |
| FY2021 | 41 | $28.7M | $300K | 7 | $13.4M | 48 | 595 |
| FY2020 | 54 | $23.0M | $211K | 5 | $2.3M | 59 | 751 |
| FY2019 | 60 | $39.9M | $238K | 8 | $7.8M | 68 | 843 |
| FY2018 | 77 | $39.2M | $157K | 6 | $4.3M | 83 | 950 |
| FY2017 | 65 | $24.8M | $150K | 4 | $1.2M | 69 | 764 |
| FY2016 | 96 | $21.1M | $75K | 6 | $3.1M | 102 | 634 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 381 approvals.
Against Pennsylvania and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Berks County | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 318 | 11,283 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 37.3 | 36.7 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $150K | $150K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $511K | $607K | $657K |
| Average approval | $569K | $482K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 11.0% | 6.5% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 9.5 | 10.3 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 2.8% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less25.5%81
- $50,001 to $150,00021.4%68
- $150,001 to $350,00018.2%58
- $350,001 to $1 million18.2%58
- $1 million to $2 million8.5%27
- Over $2 million8.2%26
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old52.8%168
- New business, 2 years or less15.4%49
- Startup, loan funds will open the business17.9%57
- Change of ownership13.5%43
- Not answered0.3%1
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Berks County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (60), South Eastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania (31), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (15), Customers Bank (14), Fulton Bank, National Association (13). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Berks County?
The median 7(a) approval was $150K and the median 504 approval $511K; the Pennsylvania 7(a) median was $150K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Berks County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (28); Building Equipment Contractors (24); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (17); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (11); General Freight Trucking (9).
Is SBA lending in Berks County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 221, against 156 in the three before: rising (+42%).
How does Berks County compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
37.3 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 36.7 statewide, and 318 of the state's 11,283 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