Bankwell Bank
SBA 7(a) loans $100K to $5M, 10 to 25 yrs, median 9.5% variable (Prime-based). SBA Preferred Lender in CT lending nationwide. Best for buyouts and insurance agencies.
Rates & Cost
What the financing costs, normalized so lenders can be compared.
Repayment Terms
How and how fast you pay it back, and how flexible it is.
Eligibility & Access
Who qualifies and what you have to put on the line.
Speed & Service
How fast you get funded and how the lender treats you.
Company Verification
Who actually stands behind the lender: legal entity, registration, and how long the business and its website have existed. Checked against public registries.
Best for: Business buyers and owners needing an SBA 7(a) loan of $100K to $5M who, for a startup or buyout, can inject 10%.
Not for: Borrowers needing cash within days or a posted rate, or with owners who are not U.S. citizens or nationals.
Lender List verdict: Bankwell Bank, a Connecticut SBA Preferred Lender, approved 86 SBA 7(a) loans worth $137.1M in the 12 months to June 30, 2026; most loans since FY2020 went out of state. Recent loans started near 9.5% variable; at today's 7.00% Prime the same spread is about 9.75%.
Bankwell Bank at a glance
| Bankwell Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | FDIC-insured bank; SBA Preferred Lender |
| Founded / HQ | 2002 / New Canaan, Connecticut |
| Amounts | $100K to $5M |
| Cost (headline) | Median 9.5% variable, last 12 months |
| Term | 10 to 25 years |
| Status | Active; last SBA approval June 22, 2026 |
What is Bankwell Bank?
Bankwell Bank is a $3.47 billion Connecticut bank founded in 2002 and owned by Nasdaq-listed Bankwell Financial Group. It has made 185 SBA loans since FY2020 in 31 states, led by Texas and Florida.
How a Bankwell Bank SBA loan works
A Bankwell Bank SBA 7(a) loan runs $100K to $5M over 10 to 25 years, approved in-house.
- Payments: monthly, fully amortizing, no balloon; 98.9% float with Prime
- Volume: FY2025, 68 loans averaging $862,051; FY2026 through June 30, 67 averaging $1,686,116
- Programs: 7(a) only; no Express loans, and no 504 listed
Bankwell Bank rates and fees: what it really costs
Bankwell Bank's SBA loans had a median 9.5% starting rate in the 12 months to June 30, 2026. With Prime at 6.75% to 7.50% then, the implied spread was 2.0 to 2.75 points; Bankwell does not publish it. SBA caps loans over $350K at 10.0% today. The SBA guaranty fee is 3% of the guaranteed share on loans of $150,001 to $700K (0% up to $700K for manufacturers, food-supply-chain and rural businesses).
Worked example: $350,000 over 10 years at 9.5% costs $4,528.91 a month. Add the $7,875 guaranty fee ($350,000 × 75% × 3%) and total cost is $201,344.74, about 10.0% APR.
Bankwell Bank requirements
Bankwell Bank applies SBA rules.
| Requirement | Bankwell Bank minimum |
|---|---|
| Business size | Within the SBA size standard |
| Ownership | All owners U.S. citizens or nationals |
| Equity injection | 10% for startups and buyouts |
| Personal guarantee | Owners of 20% or more |
| Credit score / time in business | Lender does not publish |
Frequently asked questions about Bankwell Bank
How Long Does Bankwell Bank Take to Close an SBA Loan? Bankwell Bank does not publish a timeline. Standard 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days; Preferred Lenders skip 5 to 10 business days of SBA review. Have three years of business and personal tax returns, interim financials, a debt schedule and SBA Form 413 ready.
Does Bankwell Bank Lend to Startups? Yes. Bankwell lists starting a business as an eligible SBA loan use. Startups must inject at least 10% of project cost, and 20%+ owners must guarantee the loan. Without business returns, expect to rely on three years of personal returns and SBA Form 413.
Where Is Bankwell Bank Located? Bankwell Bank is headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut, with 11 offices in Fairfield and New Haven counties and Brooklyn. Its SBA lending is national: loans since FY2020 reached borrowers in 31 states, led by Texas and Florida, so you need not be local.
Is Bankwell Bank an SBA Preferred Lender? Yes. Bankwell Bank approves 7(a) loans in-house as an SBA Preferred Lender. It made 86 SBA loans in the 12 months to June 30, 2026, with its latest approval on June 22, 2026, and has recorded no charge-offs on its 185 loans since FY2020.
Compare more SBA 7(a) lenders, or see Milestone Bank and Busey Bank.
SBA figures: SBA 7(a) FOIA data, FY2020–present, as of June 30, 2026 (data.sba.gov).
Last verified 2026-10-27. Pricing and terms are provider-stated or third-party-reported and vary by offer; confirm with the lender before applying.
Best for: Business buyers and owners needing an SBA 7(a) loan of $100K to $5M who, for a startup or buyout, can inject 10%.
Not for: Borrowers needing cash within days or a posted rate, or with owners who are not U.S. citizens or nationals.
Lender List verdict: Bankwell Bank, a Connecticut SBA Preferred Lender, approved 86 SBA 7(a) loans worth $137.1M in the 12 months to June 30, 2026; most loans since FY2020 went out of state. Recent loans started near 9.5% variable; at today's 7.00% Prime the same spread is about 9.75%.
Bankwell Bank at a glance
| Bankwell Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | FDIC-insured bank; SBA Preferred Lender |
| Founded / HQ | 2002 / New Canaan, Connecticut |
| Amounts | $100K to $5M |
| Cost (headline) | Median 9.5% variable, last 12 months |
| Term | 10 to 25 years |
| Status | Active; last SBA approval June 22, 2026 |
What is Bankwell Bank?
Bankwell Bank is a $3.47 billion Connecticut bank founded in 2002 and owned by Nasdaq-listed Bankwell Financial Group. It has made 185 SBA loans since FY2020 in 31 states, led by Texas and Florida.
How a Bankwell Bank SBA loan works
A Bankwell Bank SBA 7(a) loan runs $100K to $5M over 10 to 25 years, approved in-house.
- Payments: monthly, fully amortizing, no balloon; 98.9% float with Prime
- Volume: FY2025, 68 loans averaging $862,051; FY2026 through June 30, 67 averaging $1,686,116
- Programs: 7(a) only; no Express loans, and no 504 listed
Bankwell Bank rates and fees: what it really costs
Bankwell Bank's SBA loans had a median 9.5% starting rate in the 12 months to June 30, 2026. With Prime at 6.75% to 7.50% then, the implied spread was 2.0 to 2.75 points; Bankwell does not publish it. SBA caps loans over $350K at 10.0% today. The SBA guaranty fee is 3% of the guaranteed share on loans of $150,001 to $700K (0% up to $700K for manufacturers, food-supply-chain and rural businesses).
Worked example: $350,000 over 10 years at 9.5% costs $4,528.91 a month. Add the $7,875 guaranty fee ($350,000 × 75% × 3%) and total cost is $201,344.74, about 10.0% APR.
Bankwell Bank requirements
Bankwell Bank applies SBA rules.
| Requirement | Bankwell Bank minimum |
|---|---|
| Business size | Within the SBA size standard |
| Ownership | All owners U.S. citizens or nationals |
| Equity injection | 10% for startups and buyouts |
| Personal guarantee | Owners of 20% or more |
| Credit score / time in business | Lender does not publish |
Frequently asked questions about Bankwell Bank
How Long Does Bankwell Bank Take to Close an SBA Loan? Bankwell Bank does not publish a timeline. Standard 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days; Preferred Lenders skip 5 to 10 business days of SBA review. Have three years of business and personal tax returns, interim financials, a debt schedule and SBA Form 413 ready.
Does Bankwell Bank Lend to Startups? Yes. Bankwell lists starting a business as an eligible SBA loan use. Startups must inject at least 10% of project cost, and 20%+ owners must guarantee the loan. Without business returns, expect to rely on three years of personal returns and SBA Form 413.
Where Is Bankwell Bank Located? Bankwell Bank is headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut, with 11 offices in Fairfield and New Haven counties and Brooklyn. Its SBA lending is national: loans since FY2020 reached borrowers in 31 states, led by Texas and Florida, so you need not be local.
Is Bankwell Bank an SBA Preferred Lender? Yes. Bankwell Bank approves 7(a) loans in-house as an SBA Preferred Lender. It made 86 SBA loans in the 12 months to June 30, 2026, with its latest approval on June 22, 2026, and has recorded no charge-offs on its 185 loans since FY2020.
Compare more SBA 7(a) lenders, or see Milestone Bank and Busey Bank.
SBA figures: SBA 7(a) FOIA data, FY2020–present, as of June 30, 2026 (data.sba.gov).
Last verified 2026-10-27. Pricing and terms are provider-stated or third-party-reported and vary by offer; confirm with the lender before applying.
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