F
SBA 7(a) franchise lending portfolio
FirstBank
GOOD risk
- Total loans
- 89
- Loan volume
- $57.7M
- Avg loan size
- $648K
- Charge-off rate
- 7.5%
- vs 15.4% national avg
Defaults
5
Avg interest
6.82%
Franchises funded
72
Risk rating
GOOD
Top franchise exposures
| Franchise | Loans | Volume | Default % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnny's Pizza, Johnny Brusco' | 11 | $7.3M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Subway Sandwich Shop | 4 | $566K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Cheba Hut | 2 | $364K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Jimmy John's | 2 | $733K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Subway | 2 | $406K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Great American Cookies | 2 | $800K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream | 1 | $100K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Econo Lodge Motel | 1 | $825K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Handle With Care Packaging Sto | 1 | $100K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Coffee Beanery (retail Coffee) | 1 | $50K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Best Western Inn | 1 | $950K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Speedy Sign-O-Rama | 1 | $50K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Children's Orchard (retail Clo | 1 | $61K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Packaging Store | 1 | $100K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| General Nutrition Center | 1 | $40K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Fox's Pizza Den | 1 | $92K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Extreme Pizza | 1 | $90K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Marble Slab Creamery | 1 | $511K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Minuteman Press | 1 | $70K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Big Apple Bagels | 1 | $250K | 0.0% (low risk) |
Lending volume by year
1'92
1
2
2
5
1'99
1
2
2
1
2'04
4
1
8
5
2'13
5
8
2
4
6'18
7
4
2
3
3'24
5'25
FirstBank charge-off rate by loan vintage
BrandNational avg
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA loan-level data, aggregated by FranchiseVerdict
Charge-off rate = charge-offs / (charge-offs + paid-in-full). Active, exempt, and cancelled loans are excluded. Risk ratings: Excellent (<5%), Good (5-10%), Average (10-15%), Elevated (15-20%), High Risk (>20%).
Frequently asked questions
- How many SBA 7(a) franchise loans has FirstBank originated?
- 89 loans totaling $57.7M. The portfolio carries a 7.5% charge-off rate, earning a “GOOD” risk rating.
- What is the charge-off rate and why does it matter?
- Charge-off rate = charge-offs / (charge-offs + paid-in-full). For SBA 7(a) franchise lending, the national average runs 5–8%. Portfolios materially above that signal either riskier franchise selection or weaker underwriting.
- Where does this lending data come from?
- SBA 7(a) loan records released under the Freedom of Information Act. Each record carries approval date, amount, lender, business type, NAICS code, location, and outcome. See methodology.
- Which franchise brands does FirstBank fund the most?
- The “Top franchise exposures” table above lists the brands FirstBank has the largest concentration in. Click any brand to see its full FDD-disclosed financials, growth trajectory, and SBA loan performance across all lenders.