Montana SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Montana
Since FY2020, 125 lenders have funded 1,496 SBA loans worth $831M for businesses in Montana. Borrowers reported 13,902 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Montana businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Montana
Ranked by loans funded for Montana projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Montana beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | MT loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Bank | 7(a) | 145 | 34 | $134K | 6% |
| Capital Matrix, Inc. | 504 (CDC) | 105 | 30 | $384K | n/a |
| The Yellowstone Bank | 7(a) | 97 | 12 | $305K | 6% |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 87 | 28 | $30K | 9.24% |
| Dakota Business Lending | 504 (CDC) | 76 | 24 | $441K | n/a |
| Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 7(a) | 74 | 7 | $15K | 10.75% |
| Big Sky Economic Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 65 | 22 | $649K | n/a |
| First Interstate Bank | 7(a) | 63 | 20 | $135K | 8.5% |
| Bank of Bridger National Association | 7(a) | 57 | 1 | $102K | 5.75% |
| Three Rivers Bank of Montana | 7(a) | 48 | 6 | $227K | 6.5% |
| Valley Bank of Ronan | 7(a) | 45 | 6 | $170K | 5.75% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 39 | 19 | $274K | 11.25% |
| Montana Community Development Corp. | 7(a) | 36 | 6 | $102K | 11% |
| Stockman Bank of Montana | 7(a) | 34 | 2 | $234K | 5% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 33 | 15 | $585K | 8.25% |
| Bank of the Rockies | 7(a) | 23 | 3 | $360K | 6% |
| Manhattan Bank | 7(a) | 23 | 2 | $150K | 6.5% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 23 | 11 | $250K | 11.25% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 23 | 18 | $100K | 10.5% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 21 | 6 | $150K | 12.25% |
| Opportunity Bank of Montana | 7(a) | 20 | 6 | $317K | 7.75% |
| Bravera Bank | 7(a) | 17 | 12 | $165K | 9% |
| Freedom Bank | 7(a) | 15 | 2 | $94K | 9.5% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 7(a) | 15 | 8 | $455K | 9.25% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 15 | 8 | $331K | 10.25% |
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 Montana SBA loans run
Share of Montana 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 | MT | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 41.2% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 31.9% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 13.1% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 13.8% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Montana
Business age on Montana 7(a) loans. 18.1% 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 | MT | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 46.2% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 19.9% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 15.9% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 18.1% | 11.1% |
Industries Montana SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Montana SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | MT loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 216 | 14.4% | in line with national |
| Construction | 210 | 14% | in line with national |
| Retail | 202 | 13.5% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 153 | 10.2% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 143 | 9.6% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 117 | 7.8% | 0.8x the national share |
| Manufacturing | 96 | 6.4% | in line with national |
| Business support services | 78 | 5.2% | in line with national |
The most common specific business types funded in Montana: full-service restaurants (56), limited-service restaurants (51), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (40), landscaping services (33), all other specialty trade contractors (29), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (28).
Where in Montana the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone | 308 | 21% |
| Gallatin | 280 | 19% |
| Flathead | 217 | 15% |
| Missoula | 137 | 9% |
| Lewis And Clark | 88 | 6% |
| Cascade | 82 | 5% |
| Lake | 58 | 4% |
| Ravalli | 43 | 3% |
7(a) or 504 in Montana
18% of Montana SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $461K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Montana:
- Capital Matrix, Inc.: 105 504 loans, median $384K
- Dakota Business Lending: 76 504 loans, median $441K
- Big Sky Economic Development Corporation: 65 504 loans, median $649K
- Mountain West Small Business Finance: 11 504 loans, median $1.4M
- High Plains Financial, Inc.: 10 504 loans, median $295K
Montana SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 165 | 21 | $84M |
| FY2021 | 243 | 42 | $163M |
| FY2022 | 150 | 54 | $115M |
| FY2023 | 140 | 28 | $90M |
| FY2024 | 197 | 43 | $124M |
| FY2025 | 217 | 52 | $152M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 113 | 31 | $102M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Montana?
By funded loans since FY2020, Glacier Bank leads Montana with 145 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Montana?
The median 7(a) loan in Montana is $200K, and the middle half runs from $52K to $500K. The median 504 loan is $461K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Montana SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Montana 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 8%, against 9.25% nationally. 71% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Montana?
Yes. 36% of Montana 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 Montana. 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.