SBA preferred lender bank in Hawaii: SBA 7(a) Express loans and lines up to $500K, 10.5% median rate, no published credit minimum, ~30 days. Best for young HI firms.
What the financing costs, normalized so lenders can be compared.
How and how fast you pay it back, and how flexible it is.
Who qualifies and what you have to put on the line.
How fast you get funded and how the lender treats you.
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: Young Hawaii businesses wanting a small SBA Express loan or line of about $10K to $100K.
Not for: Non-Hawaii companies, non-profits, or large, long-term SBA borrowers.
Lender List verdict: Central Pacific Bank approved 41 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026, almost all Express, at a 10.5% median starting rate, and 35 went to startups or firms two years old or younger. Loans are small (median $25,000) and mostly unsecured.
| Central Pacific Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | FDIC-insured state member bank (cert 17308); SBA preferred lender |
| Founded / HQ | 1954 / Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Products | SBA 7(a) Express loans or credit lines of up to $500,000; other SBA programs (incl. 504) for larger amounts |
| Cost | 10.5% median starting rate (last 12 months) |
| Funding speed (typical SBA) | About 30 days (Express) to 60 to 90 days (standard 7(a)) |
| Status | Active |
Central Pacific Bank is a Honolulu commercial bank founded in 1954, with $7.50 billion in assets and 27 offices at June 30, 2026. The bank says its 113 SBA 7(a) loans in 2024 ($9.5 million) outnumbered all other Hawaii lenders combined.
Central Pacific Bank runs nearly all of its SBA lending through 7(a) Express: 38 of its 41 approvals in the 12 months to June 2026 (FY2025: 89 approvals, $4.72 million).
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA data, FY2020–present, as of June 30, 2026 (data.sba.gov)
Central Pacific Bank's median SBA starting rate was 10.5% on loans approved July 2025 to June 2026; the bank quoted 9.00% to 11.75% for SBA-backed loans as of June 23, 2026. Prime is 7.00% today.
Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year 7(a) at 10.5% costs $4,722.72 a month, or $216,726.99 in interest. The $7,875 guaranty fee lifts the APR to about 11.05%, under the SBA's 11.5% variable ceiling for this size.
Central Pacific Bank posts no credit or time-in-business minimum.
| Requirement | Central Pacific Bank minimum |
|---|---|
| Registration | Registered with Hawaii DCCA and operating; no non-profits |
| Credit score | Lender does not publish |
| Equity injection | 10%+ for startups and business purchases |
| Collateral / guarantee | Collateral on 5 of 41 recent loans; guarantee from 20%+ owners |
See SBA Express and SBA 7(a) lenders, or compare Lendistry and iBusiness Funding.
Is Central Pacific Bank Legit? Yes. Central Pacific Bank has operated in Honolulu since 1954, is FDIC-insured (cert 17308) and held $7.50 billion in assets at June 30, 2026. SBA data shows 18 charge-offs among the 515 7(a) loans it approved from FY2020 through June 2026.
Does Central Pacific Bank Offer SBA Express Loans? Yes. Express made up 38 of Central Pacific Bank's 41 SBA approvals in the year to June 2026, from $10,000 to $100,000, typically $25,000, at a median 10.5%. The bank offers Express up to $500,000; lines are variable-rate, term loans fixed.
How Long Does Central Pacific Bank Take to Close an SBA Loan? Central Pacific Bank does not publish a closing time; SBA Express loans typically close in about 30 days and standard 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days to fund. Its Business Express Term Loan promises approval in 3 business days with no financials up to $50,000.
Does Central Pacific Bank Lend to Startups? Yes. In the year to June 2026, 33 of its 41 SBA loans went to businesses two years old or younger and 2 funded businesses not yet open, 85% in all. Startups must use an SBA-guaranteed loan and inject at least 10% equity.
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: Young Hawaii businesses wanting a small SBA Express loan or line of about $10K to $100K.
Not for: Non-Hawaii companies, non-profits, or large, long-term SBA borrowers.
Lender List verdict: Central Pacific Bank approved 41 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026, almost all Express, at a 10.5% median starting rate, and 35 went to startups or firms two years old or younger. Loans are small (median $25,000) and mostly unsecured.
| Central Pacific Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | FDIC-insured state member bank (cert 17308); SBA preferred lender |
| Founded / HQ | 1954 / Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Products | SBA 7(a) Express loans or credit lines of up to $500,000; other SBA programs (incl. 504) for larger amounts |
| Cost | 10.5% median starting rate (last 12 months) |
| Funding speed (typical SBA) | About 30 days (Express) to 60 to 90 days (standard 7(a)) |
| Status | Active |
Central Pacific Bank is a Honolulu commercial bank founded in 1954, with $7.50 billion in assets and 27 offices at June 30, 2026. The bank says its 113 SBA 7(a) loans in 2024 ($9.5 million) outnumbered all other Hawaii lenders combined.
Central Pacific Bank runs nearly all of its SBA lending through 7(a) Express: 38 of its 41 approvals in the 12 months to June 2026 (FY2025: 89 approvals, $4.72 million).
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA data, FY2020–present, as of June 30, 2026 (data.sba.gov)
Central Pacific Bank's median SBA starting rate was 10.5% on loans approved July 2025 to June 2026; the bank quoted 9.00% to 11.75% for SBA-backed loans as of June 23, 2026. Prime is 7.00% today.
Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year 7(a) at 10.5% costs $4,722.72 a month, or $216,726.99 in interest. The $7,875 guaranty fee lifts the APR to about 11.05%, under the SBA's 11.5% variable ceiling for this size.
Central Pacific Bank posts no credit or time-in-business minimum.
| Requirement | Central Pacific Bank minimum |
|---|---|
| Registration | Registered with Hawaii DCCA and operating; no non-profits |
| Credit score | Lender does not publish |
| Equity injection | 10%+ for startups and business purchases |
| Collateral / guarantee | Collateral on 5 of 41 recent loans; guarantee from 20%+ owners |
See SBA Express and SBA 7(a) lenders, or compare Lendistry and iBusiness Funding.
Is Central Pacific Bank Legit? Yes. Central Pacific Bank has operated in Honolulu since 1954, is FDIC-insured (cert 17308) and held $7.50 billion in assets at June 30, 2026. SBA data shows 18 charge-offs among the 515 7(a) loans it approved from FY2020 through June 2026.
Does Central Pacific Bank Offer SBA Express Loans? Yes. Express made up 38 of Central Pacific Bank's 41 SBA approvals in the year to June 2026, from $10,000 to $100,000, typically $25,000, at a median 10.5%. The bank offers Express up to $500,000; lines are variable-rate, term loans fixed.
How Long Does Central Pacific Bank Take to Close an SBA Loan? Central Pacific Bank does not publish a closing time; SBA Express loans typically close in about 30 days and standard 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days to fund. Its Business Express Term Loan promises approval in 3 business days with no financials up to $50,000.
Does Central Pacific Bank Lend to Startups? Yes. In the year to June 2026, 33 of its 41 SBA loans went to businesses two years old or younger and 2 funded businesses not yet open, 85% in all. Startups must use an SBA-guaranteed loan and inject at least 10% equity.
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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