Huntington and Celtic Bank both anchor the $150,000–$500,000 SBA 7(a) and Express bracket and both rank near the top of SBA lenders by loan count. Huntington leans on a Midwest/Mid-Atlantic branch network and franchise-SBA depth; Celtic Bank leans on a national, digital-first process built for speed. Pick by whether local branch access or the fastest online path matters more. Confirm current program terms directly at sba.gov.
Huntington
Top SBA 7(a) lender by loan count, Midwest/Mid-Atlantic strength
Pros
Celtic Bank
Top SBA 7(a) lender by loan count, efficient smaller-loan platform
Pros
| Spec | Huntington National Bank | Celtic Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Smaller 7(a) loans $150K–$500K, franchise SBA, SBA Express | SBA 7(a) $150K–$500K, SBA Express, efficient digital process |
◈ marks the stronger option for that row.
Pick Huntington National Bank if: Smaller 7(a) loans $150K–$500K, franchise SBA, SBA Express
Pick Celtic Bank if: SBA 7(a) $150K–$500K, SBA Express, efficient digital process
See all picks, methodology, and side-by-side comparison in Best SBA Preferred Lender Banks.
Both banks are top-tier SBA 7(a) lenders by loan count, not just dollar volume, and both are built around the same sweet spot: $150,000–$500,000 7(a) loans and SBA Express. Huntington pairs that with a Midwest/Mid-Atlantic branch network and strong franchise SBA activity. Celtic Bank is a national, digital-first lender headquartered in Salt Lake City with a highly automated intake built for speed on smaller files. If you want a local branch relationship, Huntington; if you want the fastest digital process regardless of location, Celtic. (ClearValue Lending is a platform, not the lender — we route applications to lender partners.)
Yes — both are named specifically for their SBA Express strength, which covers loans up to $500,000 with a faster SBA-side response (targeted at 36 hours) versus standard 7(a) processing. Huntington's Express strength ties into its franchise-SBA expertise; Celtic Bank's ties into its automated, digital-first intake designed for high-volume smaller-loan processing. Both hold Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status, meaning they can approve loans in-house. Source: SBA Express program details at sba.gov.
Huntington explicitly markets franchise-SBA expertise alongside its Midwest branch network, which can help with in-person document and franchisor-relationship work. Celtic Bank also serves franchise borrowers within its standard loan range but leans on its digital-first, nationwide process rather than local franchise relationships. If your franchisor already has an established banking relationship or you want in-person support, Huntington's franchise depth may matter more; if you want the fastest online path regardless of concept or location, Celtic's automated workflow is built for that.
Both target the same broad SBA underwriting benchmarks — around 680+ personal FICO for the borrower and guarantors, 2+ years in business, and a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) of 1.15 or above, meaning cash flow covers the existing debt plus the new loan payment with room to spare. Your business also needs to clear SBA size standards for its industry (NAICS-based, at sba.gov). Given the $150K–$500K bracket both banks focus on, use the SBA loan requirements breakdown to check your file before applying to either.
SBA 7(a) interest rates are capped by the SBA — the maximum rate on loans over $350,000 with maturities over 7 years is Prime + 2.75%. As of July 2026, with Prime at 6.75% (published via the Federal Reserve's Selected Interest Rates release, federalreserve.gov), that ceiling works out to 9.50% for large long-term loans. Both Huntington and Celtic Bank price at or below the SBA-regulated maximum; your actual rate depends on loan size, term, credit profile, and collateral — confirm current pricing directly with each bank's SBA team.
Yes. SBA program rules require a personal guarantee from any owner holding 20% or more equity in the business, regardless of which lender originates the loan — this applies equally to Huntington and Celtic Bank as SBA 7(a) and Express lenders. Your personal assets are at risk if the business cannot repay. SBA policy also requires a first-lien position on business assets and, in some cases, additional personal collateral if business assets are insufficient. See what a personal guarantee actually means for what's at stake. Source: SBA Standard Operating Procedures 50 10 7.
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Lending is not the issuer of any product compared here; affiliate links may pay a referral commission at no cost to you — selection is independent of compensation.