Consumers National Bank Recognized as Top Small Business Lender in the State
MINERVA, Ohio−The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Ohio District office has awarded Consumers National Bank the Top Small Community Bank Lender Award and an Ohio Top Twenty SBA 7(a) Lender award.
The Top Small Community Bank Lender Award recognizes the bank’s outstanding performance making SBA 7(a) and SBA Express loans during SBA fiscal year 2025, ranking first among community banks in Ohio. It is the ninth time the bank has won the Top Community Bank award. 2025 marks the third time Consumers National bank has won the Top 20 Award, which includes all sizes of institutions as well as out of market and non-bank lenders. The bank ranked 12th of all SBA lenders in the state and ranked 7th of full-service banks with Ohio operations.
“On behalf of the U.S. Small Business Administration, we want to express our sincere gratitude for everything you do to help small businesses succeed. Your dedication, expertise and commitment to entrepreneurs make a real and lasting difference,” said Terry Bolden, the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration Cleveland District Office.
Additionally, Consumers won the 2025 Community Bank of the Year award presented by Growth Capital Corp, a Cleveland Certified Development Company. Consumers earned this for producing the most SBA 504 loans with Growth Capital in 2025.
“Small businesses are critical to the success of the communities in which we operate. As these awards signify, Consumers’ lending and credit teams work hard to craft solutions that meet each customer’s unique need. When appropriate, they incorporate SBA’s 7(a) and Express programs into financing packages to overcome specific and surmountable obstacles for credit worthy borrowers. Using the 504 program, our lenders help borrowers reduce the upfront cash requirements and lock in long term fixed rates for larger capital projects. Sean Ulik, our SBA Lending Program Manager, works closely with our lending team, the SBA District Office, Growth Capital and other 504 Program sponsors to deliver on our promise to make a difference for our business customers, their employees, and their communities. We would not be successful in this mission without the support of the SBA District Office and the local certified development companies. I want to thank them for the work they do on behalf of our business customers,” said Ralph J. Lober, II, the bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Consumers National Bank has 11 business bankers serving business clients from the bank’s 24 offices in Carroll, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning, Stark and Summit counties. In addition to Growth Capital Corp, Consumers also partners with Cascade Capital in Akron and Valley Economic Development Partners in the Mahoning Valley to finance projects through the SBA 504 Program. In addition to small business loans, the bank has a long history of agricultural lending which supports the rural communities that make up a significant portion of its markets.
About Consumers National Bank
Consumers provides a complete range of banking and other investment services to businesses and clients through its twenty-one full-service locations and one loan production office in Carroll, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning, Stark, and Summit counties in Ohio. Its market includes these counties as well as the sixteen contiguous counties in northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. Information about Consumers National Bank can be accessed on the internet at https://www.consumers.bank. Member FDIC • Equal Housing Lender NMLS #561314
Pictured with the Awards for the Top Small Community Bank Lender Award and Top 20 Small Business Assoiation 7(a) Lender Awards from left to right are Consumers National Bank's Senior Vice President & Senior Loan Officer, David Benavides, Vice President/Canton Market Manager, Sean M. Ulik, Ralph J. Lober II, President & CEO, and U.S. Small Business Administration Cleveland District Office Director, Terry Bolden.