FSB Small Business Lending
FSB Small Business Lending is the SBA lending division of First Merchants Bank (parent: First Merchants Corporation, NASDAQ: FRME), originating SBA 7(a), SBA Express, SBA 504, and conventional loans of $500K–$5M nationwide to small business owners seeking commercial real estate, acquisition, equipment, franchise, and growth financing.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersJeffersonville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FSB Small Business Lending does
FSB Small Business Lending is the SBA lending division of First Merchants Bank, itself a subsidiary of First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME), a publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The unit originates SBA 7(a) term loans, SBA Express term loans and revolving lines of credit, SBA 504 fixed asset financing, and conventional term loans and lines of credit in the $500,000–$5 million range for commercial real estate acquisitions, business acquisitions and expansions, partner buy-outs, equipment and machinery purchases, franchise financing, and debt consolidation. It also offers Fix & Flip loans for real estate investors under the Gold Shield Lending brand. Loan servicing is delivered nationwide, although the underlying community bank footprint is concentrated in Indiana-adjacent Midwestern states.
The division holds SBA Preferred Lender status, which grants delegated underwriting authority and materially accelerates approval timelines relative to non-preferred lenders. Origination is executed through three parallel channels: a network of community bank branches staffed by local SBA lenders, a formalized 'Become a Partner' referral program spanning commercial real estate firms, loan brokers, CPAs, attorneys, business brokers, architects, and design-build contractors, and a digital application portal with online intake and document submission. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiated digital underwriting infrastructure is disclosed; the value proposition rests on regulatory status, relationship-driven sales coverage, and customized deal structuring.
Revenue is generated through interest income on SBA-backed and conventional loans, plus origination fees, SBA guarantee fees, and servicing income. As a non-disclosed business unit inside a publicly traded bank holding company, segment-level financial performance is not reported. The division is led under the broader First Merchants executive team with James Valete serving as President and CEO of the parent organization.
FSB Small Business Lending firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FSB Small Business Lending
- Legal name
- First Merchants Bank
- Website
- https://fsb-sbl.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FSB Small Business Lending is the SBA lending division of First Merchants Bank (parent: First Merchants Corporation, NASDAQ: FRME), originating SBA 7(a), SBA Express, SBA 504, and conventional loans of $500K–$5M nationwide to small business owners seeking commercial real estate, acquisition, equipment, franchise, and growth financing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FSB Small Business Lending industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Lending
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (522110)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SME Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending (FSABABAG)
Keywords
Where FSB Small Business Lending is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jeffersonville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FSB Small Business Lending business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SBA Loan Interest and Fees: First Merchants Bank generates revenue through interest income on SBA 7(a), SBA Express, and SBA 504 loans ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. Additional revenue comes from loan origination fees, guarantee fees, and servicing income associated with SBA-backed lending products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SBA 7(a) Term Loans - Commercial real estate, business acquisitions, expansions, equipment purchases |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SBA Express Term Loans and Lines of Credit - Faster approval processing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SBA 504 Fixed Asset Financing - Commercial property and equipment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
FSB Small Business Lending product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FSB Small Business Lending provides SBA-backed and conventional small business financing as the Small Business Lending division of First Merchants Bank, an SBA Preferred Lender. The division originates SBA 7(a) Term Loans, SBA Express Term Loans and Lines of Credit, SBA 504 Fixed Asset Financing, conventional Term Loans, Lines of Credit, and Fix & Flip Loans under the Gold Shield Lending brand, with loan amounts typically ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. Financing supports commercial real estate, business acquisitions, expansions, equipment purchases, franchise financing, debt consolidation, and real estate investor projects for small businesses nationwide.
Product overview
First Merchants Bank's Small Business Lending division operates as a platform offering SBA Preferred Lender financing solutions, providing customized lending products for qualified small businesses nationwide. The portfolio includes SBA 7(a) Term Loans, SBA Express Term Loans and Lines of Credit, and SBA 504 Fixed Asset Financing, which can be used independently or combined with conventional financing options. Additional offerings include general Term Loans and Lines of Credit ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, as well as Fix & Flip Loans under the Gold Shield Lending brand for real estate investors. The bank's Preferred Lender status enables faster, more efficient loan processing for SBA programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SBA 7(a) Term Loans SBA 7(a) term loans for small business financing, used for commercial real estate, business acquisitions, expansions, equipment purchases, and debt consolidation. Offered to qualifying small businesses under the bank's SBA Preferred Lender program.
- SBA Express Term Loans and Lines of Credit SBA Express term loans and revolving lines of credit providing faster approval processing through the bank's SBA Preferred Lender status, designed for small businesses needing expedited access to capital.
- SBA 504 Fixed Asset Financing SBA 504 fixed asset financing for equipment purchases and commercial real estate acquisitions, structured as a partnership between the bank, a Certified Development Company, and the borrower.
- Term Loans Small business term loans ranging from $500,000 to $5 million for various business needs including commercial real estate, acquisitions, equipment, and franchise financing.
- Lines of Credit Revolving credit lines for small businesses providing flexible access to capital for working capital and short-term financing needs.
- Fix & Flip Loans (Gold Shield Lending) Specialized lending products for real estate investors focused on property renovation and resale (fix and flip) projects, offered under the Gold Shield Lending brand.
Companies that use FSB Small Business Lending
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FSB Small Business Lending technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
FSB Small Business Lending partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Small Business Administration (SBA)coreFirst Merchants Bank is an SBA Preferred Lender, a designation that demonstrates SBA's recognition of the bank's expertise and dedication to serving the small business community. This status enables faster, more efficient loan processing and allows the bank to offer SBA 7(a), SBA Express, and SBA 504 loan programs to qualifying small businesses nationwide.
- Commercial Real Estate FirmscoreReferral partner category in the bank's Become a Partner program. These firms refer clients seeking SBA financing for commercial real estate acquisitions and improvements to First Merchants Bank's small business lending team.
- Commercial Loan BrokerscoreReferral partner category in the bank's Become a Partner program. Loan brokers refer small business clients requiring SBA financing solutions to First Merchants Bank's SBA lending team.
- CPAs and Accounting FirmsminorReferral partner category. Accounting professionals refer business clients needing financing to First Merchants Bank, leveraging existing relationships to provide comprehensive financial solutions.
- Business BrokerscoreReferral partner category in the Become a Partner program. Business brokers facilitate acquisitions, expansions, and buy-outs, referring clients needing SBA financing to First Merchants Bank.
- AttorneysminorReferral partner category. Attorneys representing clients in business transactions refer those needing financing to First Merchants Bank's small business lending services.
- Design / Build ContractorsminorReferral partner category. Contractors working on commercial projects refer clients needing construction or improvement financing to First Merchants Bank.
- Architect FirmsminorReferral partner category. Architects on commercial projects refer clients seeking financing for improvements and acquisitions to First Merchants Bank.
- Money ManagersminorReferral partner category. Wealth managers and financial advisors refer business-owning clients needing financing to First Merchants Bank's SBA lending team.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
FSB Small Business Lending competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Live Oak Bank: Live Oak Bank is the largest SBA 7(a) lender in the United States and operates as a publicly traded bank (NASDAQ: LOB) focused almost exclusively on SBA lending and small business banking. It is the most directly comparable peer given overlapping SBA Preferred Lender status, similar loan products (7(a), Express, 504), and shared target market of $500K-$5M small business borrowers.
- Celtic Bank: Celtic Bank is a Utah-based, SBA-focused Preferred Lender and one of the top SBA 7(a) originators in the country. It is directly comparable on SBA product set, Preferred Lender economics, and small business customer focus, though its scale and SBA specialization exceed FMB's division.
- Newtek Business Services: NewtekOne (NASDAQ: NEWT) is a financial services holding company with material SBA 7(a) origination and government-backed lending operations. It is a direct peer in SBA Preferred Lender lending, small business target market, and tech-enabled small business financial services orientation.
- Ready Capital: Ready Capital (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate and small business finance company with an SBA lending platform and small business loan origination. Comparable on small business credit focus, government-backed loan products, and the Gold Shield-style fix-and-flip real estate investor lending overlap.
- Byline Bank: Byline Bancorp (NYSE: BY) is a Chicago-based commercial bank with a significant SBA lending division and Preferred Lender status. It competes directly with FMB in SBA 7(a) origination and serves overlapping small business customers across the Midwest with similar ticket sizes and referral-based origination.
Emerging players
- Funding Circle: Funding Circle is a fintech small business loan platform offering term loans and lines of credit to SMBs through a digital origination model. It is comparable as an emerging tech-enabled player in small business credit but operates in a lower ticket range and lacks the SBA government guarantee product set.
- OnDeck Capital: OnDeck is a digital small business lender (now part of Enova) focused on short-term working capital loans and lines of credit under $500K. It is an emerging player competing for the same small business borrowers but with a fintech, sub-$500K ticket model that is complementary rather than identical to FMB's $500K-$5M SBA focus.
- BlueVine: BlueVine is a fintech providing small business lines of credit, term loans, and invoice factoring through a digital platform. It is an emerging competitor in small business working capital, partially overlapping with FMB's SBA Express Lines of Credit product for borrowers seeking faster, smaller-ticket capital.
Broad incumbents
- Cadence Bank: Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) is a regional commercial bank with an active SBA Preferred Lender program serving small and middle-market businesses. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering SBA lending within a larger commercial banking portfolio, with overlapping small business customer base.
- Citizens Financial Group: Citizens Financial Group (NYSE: CFG) is a large regional commercial bank offering SBA lending alongside full-service commercial and small business banking. Comparable as a broader incumbent with an SBA lending division, though its scale and full-service orientation distinguish it from FMB's SBA-focused positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FSB Small Business Lending social profiles
Digital presenceFSB Small Business Lending compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
FSB Small Business Lending financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FSB Small Business Lending leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FSB Small Business Lending funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FSB Small Business Lending M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FSB Small Business Lending
What does FSB Small Business Lending do?
FSB Small Business Lending provides SBA-backed and conventional small business financing as the Small Business Lending division of First Merchants Bank, an SBA Preferred Lender. The division originates SBA 7(a) Term Loans, SBA Express Term Loans and Lines of Credit, SBA 504 Fixed Asset Financing, conventional Term Loans, Lines of Credit, and Fix & Flip Loans under the Gold Shield Lending brand, with loan amounts typically ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. Financing supports commercial real estate, business acquisitions, expansions, equipment purchases, franchise financing, debt consolidation, and real estate investor projects for small businesses nationwide.
Is FSB Small Business Lending a public or private company?
FSB Small Business Lending is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was FSB Small Business Lending founded?
FSB Small Business Lending was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FSB Small Business Lending based?
FSB Small Business Lending is headquartered in Jeffersonville, United States, in the North America region.
How does FSB Small Business Lending make money?
One revenue line is on record: SBA Loan Interest and Fees.
Who are FSB Small Business Lending's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Live Oak Bank, Celtic Bank, Newtek Business Services, Ready Capital and Byline Bank. Emerging players are Funding Circle, OnDeck Capital and BlueVine. Broad incumbents are Cadence Bank and Citizens Financial Group.
Does FSB Small Business Lending have an API?
No public API is recorded for FSB Small Business Lending.
What industry is FSB Small Business Lending in?
FSB Small Business Lending's product category is Small Business Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans, with a secondary code of FSABABAG, SME Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending. Its NAICS code is 522110 and its SIC code is 6159.