7 Best SBA Lenders for Hotels and CPG Brands in 2026

Finding the right SBA lender can shave weeks off your timeline and thousands off your total loan cost. But most hotel owners and CPG founders start by Googling "best SBA lenders" and get a generic top-ten list that ignores their industry entirely.

That's a problem. An SBA lender who regularly underwrites hotel acquisitions will understand franchise PIPs, STR data, and seasonal cash flow cycles. A lender experienced with CPG brands knows how to underwrite against purchase orders and retailer payment terms. Generalist lenders often stumble on both.

This guide ranks six SBA Preferred Lenders with proven expertise in hospitality and consumer packaged goods, plus one marketplace that connects you with several of them through a single application. Every ranking is grounded in FY 2025 SBA lending data, and every rate quoted reflects mid-2026 market conditions.

2026 SBA Rate Snapshot

Before comparing lenders, it helps to know what rates look like right now.

SBA 7(a) loans carry variable or fixed rates capped by the SBA based on loan size. As of mid-2026, overall 7(a) rate ranges run from 9.75% to 14.75%, depending on loan amount, rate type, and repayment term. Actual rates depend on your creditworthiness, collateral, and the lender's own pricing. Strong borrowers routinely land well below the cap.

SBA 504 loans use fixed rates tied to U.S. Treasury debenture sales. Current effective rates on the SBA's second-mortgage portion range from approximately 5.61% to 5.99%, depending on the term. These are among the lowest fixed rates available for commercial real estate.

Why this matters for hotels and CPG: Accommodation and Food Services received 16.4% of all SBA dollars approved in FY 2025, the largest share of any industry. (iBusiness Funding, FY2025 Data) If you're in hospitality, SBA lenders actively want your business. CPG brands increasingly tap SBA 7(a) loans for equipment, working capital, and facility expansion, though they compete across multiple NAICS codes.

Why "SBA Preferred Lender" Status Matters

Not all SBA lenders are created equal. A lender with SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status can approve loans in-house without sending each application to the SBA for review. That typically cuts two to four weeks off the approval timeline.

For hotel owners facing franchise-mandated property improvement deadlines, or CPG founders racing to fill a large retail order, that speed difference can be the gap between closing a deal and losing it.

Every lender ranked below holds PLP status unless otherwise noted.

The 7 Best SBA Lenders for Hotels and CPG Brands in 2026

1. Live Oak Bank: Largest SBA 7(a) Lender by Dollar Volume

Best for: Hotel acquisitions over $1M, established CPG companies seeking large-format SBA financing

Live Oak Bank approved $2.85 billion in SBA 7(a) loans during FY 2025, making it the nation's number-one lender by dollar volume for the fiscal year. With an average loan size of $1.25 million and 2,280 approvals, Live Oak skews toward larger, more complex deals, exactly the kind hotel acquisitions and substantial CPG facility projects tend to be.

• Headquarters: Wilmington, NC (nationwide lending)

• FY 2025 volume: $2.85B across 2,280 loans

• Average loan: $1.25M

• Hotel/CPG relevance: Deep hospitality underwriting experience; serves businesses across food service, healthcare, and specialty industries

• Standout feature: Proprietary technology platform that streamlines SBA documentation, plus a growing small-dollar loan program for deals under $350K

Watch for: Live Oak's minimum requirements (typically 680+ credit, 24+ months in business, $100K+ annual revenue) may exclude early-stage CPG startups.

2. Newtek Bank: Most SBA Loans by Count, Nationwide Reach

Best for: Hotel and CPG owners who need a fully digital, nationwide SBA lender with fast processing

Newtek Bank funded 4,828 SBA 7(a) loans totaling over $2.0 billion in FY 2025, making it the second-largest SBA lender by dollar volume and one of the top lenders by sheer loan count. (Bankrate, FY 2025 data) Newtek operates as a branchless, digital-first bank, which means borrowers in any state can apply without geographic restrictions.

• Headquarters: Boca Raton, FL (branchless, nationwide)

• FY 2025 volume: $2.03B across 4,828 loans

• Average loan: ~$420K

• Hotel/CPG relevance: High volume in accommodation and food services; branchless model serves hotel owners across all 50 states

• Standout feature: Also expanding into non-SBA alternative loans for businesses outgrowing SBA eligibility

Watch for: The fully digital experience is efficient but may feel impersonal. If you want a relationship-driven process with in-person meetings, look elsewhere on this list.

3. Huntington National Bank: Best for Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Businesses

Best for: AAHOA members, diverse hotel ownership groups, first-time CPG founders from underserved communities

Huntington has been the nation's number-one SBA 7(a) lender by loan count for seven consecutive years, approving $2.49 billion in FY 2025 across thousands of loans. What sets Huntington apart is its Lift Local Business program, a lending initiative focused on minority-, women-, and veteran-owned small businesses that has delivered $133 million in funding to more than 1,875 businesses since launching in 2020.

• Headquarters: Columbus, OH (strong in Midwest, expanding nationally)

• FY 2025 volume: $2.49B (third by dollar volume, first by loan count)

• Hotel/CPG relevance: The hotel industry has one of the most diverse ownership bases in the U.S., and AAHOA's advocacy for increased SBA limits aligns directly with Huntington's community lending focus

• Standout feature: Lift Local Business pairs capital with free financial coaching through a partnership with Operation HOPE

Watch for: Huntington's physical footprint is strongest in the Midwest, though SBA loans are originated nationally. Borrowers outside the bank's core states may have less access to in-person support.

4. Celtic Bank: Hotel Acquisition and Construction Specialist

Best for: Hotel buyers and ground-up construction projects needing a lender who knows hospitality underwriting inside and out

Celtic Bank has been a top-ten SBA 7(a) lender since 2013 and processed $593 million in SBA 7(a) loans across 1,482 deals in FY 2025. Celtic's dedicated hotel financing page highlights what makes them distinct: they fund both flagged and non-flagged hotels, approve in-house as a Preferred SBA Lender, and specialize in ground-up construction and renovation financing.

• Headquarters: Salt Lake City, UT (nationwide lending)

• FY 2025 volume: $593M across 1,482 loans

• Average loan: ~$400K

• Hotel/CPG relevance: Explicitly markets hotel/motel financing as a core vertical; also serves restaurants, gas stations, and childcare, adjacent to CPG distribution

• Standout feature: Recently partnered with Casca's AI-native platform to accelerate origination and reduce manual processing time

Watch for: Celtic's average loan size (~$400K) is lower than Live Oak's, which may reflect a focus on smaller hotel deals. Larger acquisition projects may find Live Oak or a 504 structure more suitable.

5. Peoples Bank: SBA Hotel Financing Specialist

Best for: Flagged hotel buyers working with Choice Hotels, Wyndham, or IHG who need a lender that understands brand-specific franchise requirements

Peoples Bank positions itself as a Preferred SBA Lender specializing in hospitality, with particular expertise in franchise-affiliated hotel acquisitions. Their underwriting team works directly with franchisors like Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and InterContinental Hotels Group to ensure PIP compliance during the financing process.

• Headquarters: Munster, IN (nationwide SBA lending)

• Hotel/CPG relevance: Specialist in flagged hotel financing with deep franchisor relationships; uses STR reports and RevPAR Index data (not just ADR) for underwriting

• Standout feature: Global cash flow modeling that consolidates multi-entity borrowers into a single credit profile, valuable for hotel portfolio owners

• Loan closing target: 60 days or less

Watch for: Peoples Bank is purpose-built for hospitality. CPG brands without a hotel or real estate component would be better served by a generalist SBA lender on this list.

6. TMC Financing: SBA 504 Specialist for Large Hotel Projects

Best for: Hotel owners with projects exceeding $5M who want fixed-rate, long-term SBA 504 financing with no maximum project size

TMC Financing is the self-described #1 SBA 504 hotel lender in the nation, operating as a Certified Development Company (CDC) that provides the SBA's second-mortgage portion of 504 deals. TMC has financed projects with total costs exceeding $25 million and has funded over $10 billion in SBA projects across all property types throughout its history.

• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA (nationwide for 504 loans)

• Hotel/CPG relevance: Specializes in hotel purchase, construction, expansion, and renovation using the SBA 504 structure; no maximum project size

• Standout feature: As low as 15% down payment for hotel projects, with fixed rates fully amortized over 25 years and no balloon payments

• 504 structure: Conventional lender provides ~50%, SBA 504 second mortgage covers ~35%, borrower puts down ~15%

Watch for: TMC is a CDC, not a direct lender. They provide the SBA 504 second mortgage and pair you with a conventional first-lien lender. Working capital is not included in 504 loans; you'd need a separate 7(a) loan for that.

7. Bridge Marketplace: Compare SBA and Non-SBA Lenders in One Application

Best for: Hotel owners and CPG founders who want to see SBA and conventional offers side by side without shopping lender by lender

Bridge Marketplace takes a different approach. Instead of being a single lender, Bridge connects borrowers with a network of SBA Preferred Lenders and non-SBA lenders through a single 10-minute application. You fill out one loan request, and Bridge's platform routes it to multiple lenders who compete to fund your deal.

• How it works: Apply once → receive multiple loan offers (Bridge aims to deliver offers within 48 hours) → compare SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and conventional options side by side → choose the best fit

• Hotel/CPG relevance: Bridge has dedicated hospitality partnerships including with major hotel brands, and serves CPG companies with working capital, PO financing, and inventory financing

• Standout feature: Borrowers see whether an SBA loan or a non-SBA option delivers better total cost, a comparison most individual lenders can't offer objectively

• Tools included: Free loan calculators and pro forma builders to prepare your application before submitting

Why this matters: Many hotel owners default to SBA 7(a) because it's familiar, but a conventional bridge loan or CMBS product may close faster or offer better terms depending on the deal. CPG brands may find that PO financing or AR financing fits their cash flow cycle better than a term loan. Bridge surfaces these alternatives so you're making an informed choice.

How to Get Lender-Ready Before You Apply

Whichever lender you choose, showing up prepared accelerates approvals and often results in better terms. Here's what SBA lenders typically expect:

For hotel acquisitions:

• Trailing 12-month P&L and balance sheet for the target property

• STR competitive set report (Smith Travel Research)

• Franchise agreement and any PIP documentation

• Personal financial statement and tax returns (3 years)

• Business plan with revenue projections tied to market data

For CPG financing:

• Purchase orders or retailer commitments

• Inventory valuation and COGS breakdown

• Accounts receivable aging report

• Personal and business tax returns (3 years)

• Cash flow projections aligned to retail payment cycles

For both: A DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) of at least 1.25x is the standard SBA benchmark. If your numbers are below that threshold, consider whether a working capital or bridge loan might be a better starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an SBA Preferred Lender and a standard SBA lender?

An SBA Preferred Lender can approve your loan in-house without sending the application to the SBA for a separate review. This typically shortens the approval process by two to four weeks. Standard SBA lenders must submit each application to the SBA district office for authorization, adding processing time.

Can I use an SBA loan to build a new hotel from the ground up?

Yes. Both SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans can finance ground-up hotel construction. The 7(a) program caps at $5 million per loan, while the 504 program has no maximum project cost. Lenders like TMC Financing have closed 504 deals exceeding $25 million. You must be an owner-operator; passive real estate investors do not qualify.

Are CPG brands eligible for SBA loans?

Yes, as long as the business meets SBA size standards (generally under 500 employees for manufacturing or under $8 million in average annual receipts for retail). CPG brands commonly use SBA 7(a) loans for equipment purchases, production facility expansion, and working capital. Brands with strong retailer purchase orders may also qualify for PO financing as a faster alternative.

How do I compare SBA lenders without applying to each one separately?

Loan marketplaces like Bridge let you submit a single application that reaches multiple SBA and non-SBA lenders. You receive competing offers and can compare rates, terms, and closing timelines side by side, typically within 48 hours.

What credit score do I need for an SBA loan in 2026?

The SBA does not set a minimum credit score, but most Preferred Lenders look for a personal credit score of at least 680. Huntington's Lift Local Business program may offer more flexible criteria for qualifying minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. Stronger credit scores generally translate to rates closer to the SBA's base rate minimums.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right SBA Lender for Your Hotel or CPG Business

The right SBA lender isn't the one with the biggest name. It's the one that understands your industry, your deal structure, and your timeline.

If you're acquiring a flagged hotel, a lender like Celtic Bank or Peoples Bank will speak the language of PIPs, STR data, and franchisor requirements from day one. If your CPG brand needs capital to fill a large retail order, a high-volume lender like Live Oak or Newtek can move quickly on a 7(a) application. And if you're a minority, women, or veteran-owned business, Huntington's Lift Local Business program was built with you in mind.

For large hotel construction or expansion projects, the SBA 504 program through a specialist like TMC Financing offers some of the lowest fixed rates in commercial real estate, with no maximum project size.

Still not sure which path fits best? That's exactly the problem a marketplace solves. Bridge Marketplace lets you submit one application and receive competing SBA and non-SBA offers side by side, so you can compare rates, terms, and closing timelines without committing to a single lender upfront.

Whichever route you take, get your documents in order, know your DSCR, and apply with a lender who already knows your industry. That combination will save you weeks and potentially thousands in total loan cost.

Hotel owners and CPG founders canstart a free 10-minute application on Bridge Marketplaceto compare SBA and non-SBA loan offers from multiple lenders, no commitment required.