SBA lender profile
First Merchants Bank
First Merchants Bank appears in the public SBA loan data with 2,140 funded 7(a) loans since FY2010, totaling $1.4B, an average of $655K per loan, and an estimated 33,065 jobs supported. Its SBA lending concentrates in Michigan and the Accommodation and Food Services sector. Across its 7(a) loans, the charge-off rate is 2.8%. 53.7% of its 7(a) loans were processed under delegated PLP authority.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA 7(a) and 504 data, FY2010–2026 (as of 2026-03-31)
- Track record 75
- Scale 96
- Activity 95
- Consistency 87
A relative profile signal from the public SBA record, not a prediction of approval or a guarantee.
Is First Merchants Bank the right lender for you?
Lenders fund what they know. First Merchants Bank's SBA lending concentrates in Michigan (407 loans) and Accommodation and Food Services (266 loans), at an average loan of $655K. If your business does not look like that, a different SBA lender is likely the better fit.
See which SBA lenders fund businesses like yours →Ranked on the funded-loan record, not on who pays. Free, and your details go only to the lenders we match you to.
Bank profile
via FDIC- Total assets
- $27M
- Headquarters
- Thomasville, GA
- FDIC cert
- #19778
- Status
- Inactive
Where First Merchants Bank lends
Top states by funded SBA volume.
Metro areas where First Merchants Bank funds
What First Merchants Bank funds
Top industries by funded SBA volume.
| Industry | Loans | Total volume |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 266 | $214.0M |
| Retail Trade | 279 | $191.4M |
| Manufacturing | 215 | $189.6M |
| Other Services | 216 | $134.0M |
| Construction | 242 | $109.6M |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 168 | $106.8M |
First Merchants Bank SBA lending by year
Funded SBA volume by approval fiscal year (FY2010–2026).
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total volume |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51 | $20.7M |
| 2011 | 93 | $62.4M |
| 2012 | 108 | $39.7M |
| 2013 | 82 | $34.2M |
| 2014 | 111 | $48.7M |
| 2015 | 122 | $46.2M |
| 2016 | 121 | $69.0M |
| 2017 | 146 | $112.5M |
| 2018 | 114 | $120.5M |
| 2019 | 158 | $115.1M |
| 2020 | 280 | $146.4M |
| 2021 | 164 | $139.9M |
| 2022 | 62 | $59.0M |
| 2023 | 118 | $80.0M |
| 2024 | 166 | $94.3M |
| 2025 | 176 | $130.0M |
| 2026 | 68 | $83.3M |
Related SBA lenders
Other lenders active in Michigan or in Accommodation and Food Services.
Comparing lenders? See how to choose an SBA lender by track record.
First Merchants Bank: frequently asked questions
Does First Merchants Bank offer SBA loans?
Yes. First Merchants Bank appears in the public SBA data with 2,140 funded SBA 7(a) loans totaling $1.4B.
How many SBA loans has First Merchants Bank made?
First Merchants Bank is associated with 2,140 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $1.4B in the public SBA data (as of 2026-03-31).
What is First Merchants Bank's SBA charge-off rate?
About 2.8% of First Merchants Bank's 7(a) loans in the data have been charged off. A lower rate is generally a better sign, but it is not a lifetime default rate; see our methodology for how it is calculated.
Where does First Merchants Bank do most of its SBA lending?
First Merchants Bank's SBA lending in the data is most concentrated in Michigan, and by industry in Accommodation and Food Services.
Is First Merchants Bank an SBA Preferred Lender (PLP)?
The loan record shows First Merchants Bank operating under PLP delegated authority: 1,150 of its 7(a) loans (53.7%) were processed through the Preferred Lenders Program, including 250 in FY2024–2026. The SBA grants and renews PLP status and publishes no public roster, so this is the processing record, not a certification.
This page is the public view of your institution's SBA record: rank, trajectory, and market position, computed from the complete public 7(a)/504 dataset. The full competitive picture (your share against named competitors by state and industry, and the growing markets you're absent from) is available to your team.
Request your institution's benchmarking →Mario Bailey. (2026). First Merchants Bank SBA lending profile. SBA Loan Index. https://sbaloanindex.com/lenders/first-merchants-bank/
Free to cite and quote with attribution and a link. Members of the press can reach us via our press page.
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