SBA 7(a) loans in Arkansas
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) & 504 FOIA loan data [source] · File as of September 30, 2026 · Loans approved in federal fiscal years 2024–2026 (Oct 2023 – Sept 2026) · Imported November 4, 2026
875loans approved
$250,000median loan
$90K–$767Kmiddle half of loans
$592.5Mtotal approved
10%median initial rate
10 yrsmedian term
The median Arkansas loan is 43% larger than the national median of $175,000.
Loan sizes
Top industries
| Industry (NAICS) | Loans | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production (112320) | 49 | $1,090,000 |
| Full-Service Restaurants (722511) | 40 | $211,300 |
| Chicken Egg Production (112310) | 36 | $654,500 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220) | 25 | $118,300 |
| Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (721110) | 20 | $2,410,000 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants (722513) | 18 | $264,100 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940) | 16 | $334,250 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210) | 14 | $103,100 |
| Other Personal Care Services (812199) | 14 | $425,000 |
| Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (457110) | 14 | $1,945,250 |
Most active lenders in Arkansas
| Lender | Loans | Median | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 82 | $273,200 | $56.4M |
| First Service Bank | 66 | $307,500 | $54.5M |
| Arvest Bank | 62 | $116,500 | $13.6M |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 60 | $28,750 | $5.4M |
| First Financial Bank | 42 | $993,000 | $59.1M |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 38 | $100,000 | $8.3M |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 37 | $1,000,000 | $66.1M |
| The Huntington National Bank | 35 | $287,000 | $19.4M |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 34 | $76,750 | $13.7M |
| Fnbc Bank | 32 | $322,000 | $21.8M |
SBA 504 loans in Arkansas
504 loans finance real estate and major equipment through a Certified Development Company (CDC). Approved FY2024–FY2026, file as of September 30, 2026 [source].
55504 loans approved
$585,000median CDC portion
$53.6Mtotal CDC portion
What these 504 amounts cover: only the SBA-backed CDC portion of each project (typically up to 40%). A bank first loan and the borrower's down payment make up the rest, so total project costs are larger.
Most active CDCs in Arkansas
| Lender | Loans | Median | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Missouri, INC. | 46 | $570,500 | $41.3M |
Starting a business in Arkansas? See how to register your business.
What this data does — and doesn't — tell you
- Approvals, not applications. These are loans SBA approved. The data has no denials, so it cannot tell you your odds of approval.
- Loan size is not startup cost. 7(a) loans also pay for buying existing businesses, real estate, equipment, refinancing and working capital.
- Gross approval amount. Figures are the full approved loan, including the part SBA does not guarantee. Some approved loans are later reduced or never fully disbursed.
- Industry codes are assigned at approval (NAICS) and can be imprecise — a mobile detailer may be coded as a car wash, for example.
- Medians beat averages here: a few very large loans pull averages up. We show the median and the middle half (25th–75th percentile).
- No default rates. Most recent loans are still being repaid, so charge-off rates for these years would be misleading. We don't show them.
- Cancelled loans are excluded, and any group with fewer than 10 loans is hidden. We never publish borrower names.
- Lender counts aren't a quality rating. Big national lenders make many small loans; local lenders may know your market better. Talk to several, or use SBA Lender Match.