Arkansas SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Arkansas
Since FY2020, 164 lenders have funded 1,961 SBA loans worth $1.2B for businesses in Arkansas. Borrowers reported 19,863 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Arkansas businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Arkansas
Ranked by loans funded for Arkansas projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Arkansas beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | AR loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvest Bank | 7(a) | 276 | 34 | $79K | 6% |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 137 | 40 | $25K | 8.49% |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 7(a) | 118 | 55 | $279K | 7.75% |
| First Service Bank | 7(a) | 117 | 37 | $300K | 8.5% |
| First Financial Bank | 7(a) | 108 | 29 | $758K | 7.6% |
| Rural Missouri, Inc. | 504 (CDC) | 106 | 33 | $569K | n/a |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 72 | 12 | $276K | 10% |
| FNBC Bank | 7(a) | 67 | 18 | $154K | 9.25% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 49 | 22 | $1.1M | 8% |
| Bank OZK | 7(a) | 46 | 9 | $300K | 6% |
| ACC Capital | 7(a) | 40 | 5 | $243K | 10.38% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 39 | 21 | $104K | 11.25% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 37 | 23 | $125K | 11.5% |
| First Security Bank | 7(a) | 34 | 8 | $165K | 8.5% |
| Simmons Bank | 7(a) | 31 | 3 | $250K | 7.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 29 | 5 | $150K | 11.5% |
| Regions Bank | 7(a) | 27 | 11 | $527K | 8.09% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 27 | 12 | $150K | 10.25% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 26 | 5 | $150K | 9% |
| Six Bridges Capital Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 26 | 2 | $589K | n/a |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 25 | 14 | $150K | 10.75% |
| RiverBank | 7(a) | 21 | 7 | $75K | 8.46% |
| Encore Bank | 7(a) | 20 | 7 | $562K | 9.5% |
| The First National Bank of Fort Smith | 7(a) | 19 | 1 | $135K | 7.75% |
| Equity Bank | 7(a) | 17 | 4 | $434K | 6.25% |
504 loans are written by Certified Development Companies alongside a bank first mortgage. The 504 file reports no interest rate, so CDC rows show none.
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Start your funding profile →How big Arkansas SBA loans run
Share of Arkansas 7(a) loans by approval size, next to the national split. If your ask sits in a common band, it is the kind of loan lenders here fund every week.
| 7(a) loan size | AR | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 38.9% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 29.5% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 13.1% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 18.5% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Arkansas
Business age on Arkansas 7(a) loans. 13.9% funded a change of ownership, against 11.1% nationally. Buying a business? See the acquisition lender shortlist. Starting one? See startup-friendly lenders.
| Business stage | AR | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 39.7% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 16.5% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 29.9% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 13.9% | 11.1% |
Industries Arkansas SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Arkansas SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | AR loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 281 | 14.3% | in line with national |
| Retail | 252 | 12.9% | in line with national |
| Construction | 220 | 11.2% | in line with national |
| Agriculture | 209 | 10.7% | 10.7x the national share |
| Personal and repair services | 184 | 9.4% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 177 | 9% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 127 | 6.5% | 0.7x the national share |
| Manufacturing | 100 | 5.1% | 0.8x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in Arkansas: broilers and other meat type chicken production (100), full-service restaurants (94), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (63), chicken egg production (60), limited-service restaurants (56), plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors (37).
Where in Arkansas the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Benton | 297 | 15% |
| Pulaski | 281 | 14% |
| Washington | 192 | 10% |
| Faulkner | 109 | 6% |
| Garland | 104 | 5% |
| Saline | 80 | 4% |
| Sebastian | 78 | 4% |
| Craighead | 48 | 2% |
7(a) or 504 in Arkansas
7% of Arkansas SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $577K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Arkansas:
- Rural Missouri, Inc.: 106 504 loans, median $569K
- Six Bridges Capital Corporation: 26 504 loans, median $589K
Arkansas SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 256 | 17 | $108M |
| FY2021 | 279 | 32 | $216M |
| FY2022 | 234 | 26 | $154M |
| FY2023 | 269 | 13 | $194M |
| FY2024 | 257 | 15 | $156M |
| FY2025 | 333 | 20 | $232M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 191 | 19 | $171M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Arkansas?
By funded loans since FY2020, Arvest Bank leads Arkansas with 276 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Arkansas?
The median 7(a) loan in Arkansas is $227K, and the middle half runs from $69K to $698K. The median 504 loan is $577K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Arkansas SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Arkansas 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 8%, against 9.25% nationally. 75% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Arkansas?
Yes. 46% of Arkansas 7(a) loans with a reported business age went to startups or businesses two years old or younger, against 34% nationally. Lenders still expect a solid plan, owner equity and usually collateral.
Sources and limits. Derived from U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level records, FY2020 through June 30, 2026, for projects located in Arkansas. Cancelled approvals are excluded. Jobs supported are as reported by borrowers. Figures describe past lending activity only and are not offers, quotes, or qualification decisions. Big Brain Funding is not a lender and is not affiliated with any lender listed.