SBA Preferred Lender bank: 7(a) loans up to $5M, Express to $500K, 9.25% median starting rate, startups OK, no posted timeline. Best for PA, NJ, DE and MD owners.
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: Startups, franchisees and business buyers in PA, NJ, DE or MD needing an SBA 7(a) loan of $180,000 to $3.2 million.
Not for: Borrowers who need posted pricing, unsecured money or fast funding; recent 7(a) loans were all variable-rate, so ask for a fixed quote.
Lender List verdict: WSFS Bank approved 175 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026, 71 to startups. A strong pick for regional startups and franchise buyers who can pledge collateral; expect about 9.79% APR on $350,000.
| WSFS Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | Federal savings bank (FDIC cert 17838); SBA Preferred Lender |
| Founded / HQ | 1832 / Wilmington, Delaware |
| Products | SBA 7(a) to $5,000,000; 504 to $5,500,000 for manufacturers; Express to $500,000 |
| Cost | 9.25% median starting rate (last 12 months); 8.25% to 10.0% |
| Funding speed | Not published; standard 7(a) often 60 to 90 days |
| Status | Active |
WSFS Bank is Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, a Delaware savings bank founded in 1832, with $22.6 billion in assets and 95 offices at June 30, 2026 (FDIC).
A WSFS loan backed by the SBA comes in three programs; WSFS ranks itself Delaware's top 7(a) lender by dollars for fiscal 2025.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA data as of June 30, 2026.
WSFS Bank's median SBA 7(a) starting rate was 9.25% over the last 12 months, about Prime + 2.5%; WSFS posts no rates or spreads. Loans above $350,000 had a 9.0% median, under the SBA ceiling of Prime + 3% (10.0% at today's 7.00% Prime). Add the SBA guaranty fee: 3% of the guaranteed share on $150,001 to $700,000. Terms under 15 years carry no prepayment fee.
Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year 7(a) at 9.25% costs $4,481.15 a month, or $187,737.43 in interest. The $7,875 guaranty fee lifts the APR to about 9.79%.
WSFS Bank publishes no minimum credit score, revenue or time in business for SBA loans.
| Requirement | WSFS Bank minimum |
|---|---|
| Size | Small under SBA size standards |
| Credit score | Lender does not publish |
| Equity injection | 10% minimum; buyouts may need 0% |
| Collateral / guarantee | Collateral on all 175 recent loans; guarantee from 20%+ owners |
See SBA 7(a) lenders, or compare Lendistry and iBusiness Funding.
Is WSFS Bank Legit? Yes. WSFS Bank is an FDIC-insured savings bank operating since 1832, with $22.6 billion in assets, and an SBA Preferred Lender since 1999. SBA data show just 7 of its 897 SBA 7(a) loans approved since October 2019 were charged off.
What Does WSFS Stand For? WSFS stands for Wilmington Savings Fund Society, the name of the savings bank founded in Wilmington, Delaware in 1832. SBA and FDIC records list it as Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, while customers and its own website use the shorter WSFS Bank.
How Long Does WSFS Take to Close an SBA Loan? WSFS does not publish a timeline. NerdWallet says standard 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days to fund and Express loans about 30. As a Preferred Lender, WSFS approves loans in-house, skipping the SBA's 5 to 10 business-day review.
Does WSFS Lend to Startups? Yes. WSFS lists start-ups as an eligible 7(a) use, and 71 of its 175 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026 went to businesses not yet open. Expect to inject at least 10% of the project cost and pledge collateral.
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: Startups, franchisees and business buyers in PA, NJ, DE or MD needing an SBA 7(a) loan of $180,000 to $3.2 million.
Not for: Borrowers who need posted pricing, unsecured money or fast funding; recent 7(a) loans were all variable-rate, so ask for a fixed quote.
Lender List verdict: WSFS Bank approved 175 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026, 71 to startups. A strong pick for regional startups and franchise buyers who can pledge collateral; expect about 9.79% APR on $350,000.
| WSFS Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | Federal savings bank (FDIC cert 17838); SBA Preferred Lender |
| Founded / HQ | 1832 / Wilmington, Delaware |
| Products | SBA 7(a) to $5,000,000; 504 to $5,500,000 for manufacturers; Express to $500,000 |
| Cost | 9.25% median starting rate (last 12 months); 8.25% to 10.0% |
| Funding speed | Not published; standard 7(a) often 60 to 90 days |
| Status | Active |
WSFS Bank is Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, a Delaware savings bank founded in 1832, with $22.6 billion in assets and 95 offices at June 30, 2026 (FDIC).
A WSFS loan backed by the SBA comes in three programs; WSFS ranks itself Delaware's top 7(a) lender by dollars for fiscal 2025.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA data as of June 30, 2026.
WSFS Bank's median SBA 7(a) starting rate was 9.25% over the last 12 months, about Prime + 2.5%; WSFS posts no rates or spreads. Loans above $350,000 had a 9.0% median, under the SBA ceiling of Prime + 3% (10.0% at today's 7.00% Prime). Add the SBA guaranty fee: 3% of the guaranteed share on $150,001 to $700,000. Terms under 15 years carry no prepayment fee.
Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year 7(a) at 9.25% costs $4,481.15 a month, or $187,737.43 in interest. The $7,875 guaranty fee lifts the APR to about 9.79%.
WSFS Bank publishes no minimum credit score, revenue or time in business for SBA loans.
| Requirement | WSFS Bank minimum |
|---|---|
| Size | Small under SBA size standards |
| Credit score | Lender does not publish |
| Equity injection | 10% minimum; buyouts may need 0% |
| Collateral / guarantee | Collateral on all 175 recent loans; guarantee from 20%+ owners |
See SBA 7(a) lenders, or compare Lendistry and iBusiness Funding.
Is WSFS Bank Legit? Yes. WSFS Bank is an FDIC-insured savings bank operating since 1832, with $22.6 billion in assets, and an SBA Preferred Lender since 1999. SBA data show just 7 of its 897 SBA 7(a) loans approved since October 2019 were charged off.
What Does WSFS Stand For? WSFS stands for Wilmington Savings Fund Society, the name of the savings bank founded in Wilmington, Delaware in 1832. SBA and FDIC records list it as Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, while customers and its own website use the shorter WSFS Bank.
How Long Does WSFS Take to Close an SBA Loan? WSFS does not publish a timeline. NerdWallet says standard 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days to fund and Express loans about 30. As a Preferred Lender, WSFS approves loans in-house, skipping the SBA's 5 to 10 business-day review.
Does WSFS Lend to Startups? Yes. WSFS lists start-ups as an eligible 7(a) use, and 71 of its 175 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026 went to businesses not yet open. Expect to inject at least 10% of the project cost and pledge collateral.
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.
Saratoga Springs, NY private credit advisory arranging $50K–$20M working capital: lines of credit, term loans, ABL, equi...
SBA Preferred Lender bank: SBA 7(a) up to $5M plus SBA 504, 8.0% median fixed rate (last 12 months), collateral required...
SBA Preferred Lender in ME and NH: SBA 7(a) and Express up to $1.75M, 7.75% median rate (last 12 months), collateral req...
Louisville SBA Preferred Lender: 7(a) and 504 loans up to $5M, Express to $500K, 7.75% median starting rate, startups OK...
SBA Preferred Lender for MN, WI and ND owners: 7(a), 504, Express and CAPLine to $5M, median 9.25% variable, ~10-yr term...
SBA Preferred Lender in Wichita, KS: SBA 7(a) and Express loans $10,000 to $5M for KS, NE and MO businesses, 7.38% media...