MB
SBA 7(a) franchise lending portfolio
Merchants Bank, National Association
CRITICAL risk
- Total loans
- 51
- Loan volume
- $19.5M
- Avg loan size
- $382K
- Charge-off rate
- 28.3%
- vs 15.4% national avg
Defaults
13
Avg interest
5.61%
Franchises funded
37
Risk rating
CRITICAL
Top franchise exposures
| Franchise | Loans | Volume | Default % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick-N-Willy's Pizza | 4 | $595K | 75.0% (very high risk) |
| Pizza Factory | 3 | $230K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Cold Stone Creamery, Inc. | 3 | $633K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Fitness Together | 3 | $284K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Subway Sandwich Shop | 3 | $1.1M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Certa Propainters | 2 | $237K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Computer Renaissance | 2 | $167K | 50.0% (very high risk) |
| Jersey Mike's | 2 | $682K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Super 8 Motel | 1 | $945K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Fantastic Sam's | 1 | $60K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Exchaust Pro | 1 | $95K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Play It Again Sports (retail S | 1 | $100K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Travel Network | 1 | $60K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Erbert & Gerbert's Subs & Club | 1 | $210K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Card$mart | 1 | $150K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| General Nutrition Center | 1 | $128K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Servicemaster | 1 | $700K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Culver's Frozen Custard | 1 | $309K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Dairy Queen | 1 | $320K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Mail Boxes Etc. Usa | 1 | $138K | 0.0% (low risk) |
Lending volume by year
1'92
1
2
2
2
3'03
6
2
2
2
6'08
3
3
3
1
3'15
1
1
1
2
3'22
1'23
Merchants Bank, National Association 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 Merchants Bank, National Association originated?
- 51 loans totaling $19.5M. The portfolio carries a 28.3% charge-off rate, earning a “CRITICAL” 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 Merchants Bank, National Association fund the most?
- The “Top franchise exposures” table above lists the brands Merchants Bank, National Association has the largest concentration in. Click any brand to see its full FDD-disclosed financials, growth trajectory, and SBA loan performance across all lenders.