M&T Bank ranked No. 1 by number of Small Business Administration 7(a) loans across its communities in fiscal 2026 and recorded the largest SBA 7(a) loan volume in the bank’s history, the company announced Thursday.
The Buffalo-headquartered bank approved 2,975 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $326.44 million in the federal fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2026, a roughly 10% increase in both loan units and dollars compared with fiscal 2025. M&T rose to No. 5 nationally among SBA 7(a) lenders, up from No. 7 the previous year, the bank said.
The performance came even as industrywide SBA 7(a) loan volume fell 26% and lending dollars declined 12% year over year, according to the bank’s release and SBA statistics for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026.
“M&T’s longstanding commitment to small businesses is about more than providing access to capital, it’s about being a trusted partner to entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey,” said Eric Feldstein, M&T Bank senior executive vice president and head of retail and business banking. “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. We’re proud to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas and ambitions into the businesses that strengthen our communities.”
M&T also tied for No. 8 nationally as an SBA 504 third-party lender, providing 55 loans totaling $50.88 million. The bank said the 504 program focuses on long-term investments such as commercial property purchases, facility construction and major equipment.
Across its reporting districts, M&T said it achieved No. 1 rankings in 10 SBA districts and finished in the top three in all 15 districts. Locally, the bank reported 226 SBA 7(a) approvals in the Buffalo/Rochester district totaling $28.8 million in fiscal 2026.
Other No. 1 district results cited by the bank included Baltimore (442 loans, $56.0 million), Metro New York City (409 loans, $40.1 million), Philadelphia (304 loans, $29.6 million), Washington, D.C. (264 loans, $34.9 million) and Syracuse (164 loans, $19.1 million).
The figures are based on U.S. Small Business Administration statistics for approved loans through the SBA’s 7(a) program during the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026, the bank noted.
M&T Bank is headquartered in Buffalo and operates a branch and ATM network across the eastern U.S.
