PHILADELPHIA, PA — M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) ranked first in Small Business Administration 7(a) lending in the Philadelphia district during fiscal 2026, approving 304 loans totaling $29.6 million as the Buffalo-based lender expanded its small-business financing operations despite a nationwide contraction in government-backed lending.
The Philadelphia district, which covers eastern Pennsylvania, was one of 10 SBA districts where M&T ranked first by number of approved loans, according to results released this week.
Nationally, M&T approved a record 2,975 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $326.44 million during the federal fiscal year ended September 30. The results represented increases of 274 loans and $32.5 million from fiscal 2025, approximately 10% growth in both categories.
The expansion contrasted with a broader decline in SBA lending. Industrywide 7(a) loan volume fell 26% from the previous fiscal year, while approved lending dollars declined 12%, according to figures cited by the bank.
M&T climbed to fifth nationally among SBA 7(a) lenders, up from seventh in fiscal 2025. The bank has ranked among the country’s leading SBA lenders for 18 consecutive years.
The SBA 7(a) program provides government-backed financing for small businesses, supporting purposes including working capital, equipment purchases, business acquisitions and commercial real estate.
M&T’s Philadelphia performance placed the district among its largest markets by loan count, behind Baltimore, metropolitan New York City and New Jersey.
Baltimore led the bank’s district-level results with 442 loans totaling $56 million, followed by metropolitan New York City with 409 loans worth $40.1 million.
In neighboring Delaware, M&T ranked first with 98 loans totaling $9.06 million. The bank also secured the top position in Washington, D.C., with 264 loans worth $34.9 million.
M&T finished among the top three lenders in all 15 SBA districts where it reported results, including first-place rankings in Connecticut, Richmond, Buffalo/Rochester, Syracuse and Vermont.
The bank’s New England lending operations also expanded substantially over the past four years, increasing from 107 SBA 7(a) approvals in fiscal 2022 to 588 in fiscal 2026.
“Our SBA lending leadership has been built on understanding our clients’ goals and working with them to find the right path forward, whether they’re launching a new business, investing in a permanent home, or pursuing their next opportunity for growth,” said Eric Feldstein, M&T’s senior executive vice president and head of retail and business banking.
Beyond its 7(a) activity, M&T tied for eighth nationally as an SBA 504 third-party lender, providing 55 loans totaling $50.88 million.
The SBA 504 program supports long-term investments in commercial property, facility construction and major equipment, complementing the broader financing purposes available through 7(a) loans.
One transaction involved Baltimore-based Mid Atlantic Port Service, which obtained $5.7 million in SBA 504 financing to purchase a facility and consolidate operations previously spread across leased properties.
“As our lease costs continued to rise, we knew owning our facility was the right long-term move for the business,” said Marc Cruise, the company’s owner.
M&T Bank Corporation, headquartered in Buffalo, operates a banking network extending from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C.
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