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County13th of 64 in Alabama by approvalsFIPS 01043
SBA loans in Cullman County, Alabama
7(a) and 504 approvals to businesses located in the county, set against the number of businesses there and against the state.
SBA approvals by fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs 1 October to 30 September, so FY2025 is 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. *FY2026 is open: approvals to 30 Jun 2026 only.
SBA approved 41 loans to businesses in Cullman County, Alabama, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $29.7M: 31 under 7(a) and 10 under 504.
That is 22.0 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,867 establishments in 2023), close to the Alabama figure of 24.1 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 13th of 64 Alabama counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 14.
24 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Northeast Bank (5), Florida Business Development Corporation (4) and Southern Development Council (3). The most common industry was restaurants and other eating places.
Loan status is as recorded by SBA at the data date; charge-off rates are computed on loans approved at least five fiscal years ago. Jobs supported are self-reported estimates from the SBA loan application, which SBA does not review, audit or validate. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Lenders most active in Cullman County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 24 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 5 | $448K | 12.2% | |
| 2 | Florida Business Development CorporationTampa, FL · CDC | 4 | $3.0M | 9.8% | |
| 3 | Southern Development CouncilMountain Brook, AL · CDC | 3 | $4.0M | 7.3% | |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 3 | $740K | 7.3% | |
| 5 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 6 | BankFirst Financial ServicesColumbus, MS | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc.Tallahassee, FL · CDC | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 8 | Peoples Bank of AlabamaCullman, AL | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 9 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 10 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 11 | Birmingham Citywide Local Development CompanyBirmingham, AL · CDC | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 12 | SouthPoint BankBirmingham, AL | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 13 | Bank Five NineOconomowoc, WI | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 14 | Bank OZKLittle Rock, AR | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 15 | Oakworth Capital BankBirmingham, AL | 1 | — | 2.4% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 17.1% | |
| 2 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 5 | 12.2% | |
| 3 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related ActivitiesNAICS 5242 | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 4 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 5 | Cement and Concrete Product ManufacturingNAICS 3273 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 6 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument RetailersNAICS 4591 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 8 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 9 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 10 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 1 | 2.4% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 9 | 22.0% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 8 | 19.5% | |
| 3 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 7 | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 3 | 7.3% |
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) approvals | 7(a) dollars | Median 7(a) | 504 approvals | 504 dollars | All approvals | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 5 | $2.3M | $333K | 0 | — | 5 | 19 |
| FY2025 | 13 | $7.5M | $100K | 1 | — | 14 | 50 |
| FY2024 | 7 | $2.9M | $175K | 1 | — | 8 | 78 |
| FY2023 | 9 | $4.3M | $150K | 6 | $5.4M | 15 | 341 |
| FY2022 | 0 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 |
| FY2021 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 37 |
| FY2020 | 2 | — | — | 5 | $3.9M | 7 | 67 |
| FY2019 | 3 | $2.0M | $700K | 1 | — | 4 | 43 |
| FY2018 | 8 | $4.8M | $256K | 1 | — | 9 | 118 |
| FY2017 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 150 |
| FY2016 | 4 | $1.3M | $364K | 1 | — | 5 | 23 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 26 approvals.
Against Alabama and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Cullman County | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 41 | 2,552 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 22.0 | 24.1 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $150K | $260K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $580K | $659K | $657K |
| Average approval | $724K | $696K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 24.4% | 13.7% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 12.4 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.6% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less17.1%7
- $50,001 to $150,00024.4%10
- $150,001 to $350,00014.6%6
- $350,001 to $1 million22.0%9
- $1 million to $2 million4.9%2
- Over $2 million17.1%7
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old53.7%22
- New business, 2 years or less14.6%6
- Startup, loan funds will open the business19.5%8
- Change of ownership12.2%5
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Cullman County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Northeast Bank (5), Florida Business Development Corporation (4), Southern Development Council (3), Newtek Bank, National Association (3), SouthState Bank, National Association (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Cullman County?
The median 7(a) approval was $150K and the median 504 approval $580K; the Alabama 7(a) median was $260K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Cullman County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Gasoline Stations (5); Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (3); Lessors of Real Estate (2); Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing (2).
Is SBA lending in Cullman County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 37, against 11 in the three before: rising (+236%).
How does Cullman County compare with the rest of Alabama?
22.0 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 24.1 statewide, and 41 of the state's 2,552 approvals.
About these figures
Figures are totals of the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, data through 30 Jun 2026. SBA updates the files quarterly. Counts are loan approvals, including approvals later cancelled; the five-year window is FY2021–FY2025, the five latest complete fiscal years. Charge-off rates use only loans approved in FY2010–FY2021, at least five fiscal years ago, and count disbursed loans SBA records as charged off. Loans are listed under the lender they are assigned to today. Establishment counts are from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns 2023, which leaves out most farms, government and businesses without employees. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error