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County11th of 64 in Alabama by approvalsFIPS 01049
SBA loans in DeKalb 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.
Businesses in DeKalb County, Alabama, received 46 SBA loan approvals worth $39.2M in FY2021 to FY2025 (40 7(a), 6 504).
That is 39.5 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,165 establishments in 2023), above the Alabama figure of 24.1 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 11th of 64 Alabama counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 13.
20 lenders had approvals here; the most active were First Financial Bank (11), Live Oak Banking Company (7) and Northeast Bank (3). The most common industry was poultry and egg production.
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 DeKalb County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 20 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Financial BankEl Dorado, AR | 11 | $4.0M | 23.9% | |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 7 | $12.5M | 15.2% | |
| 3 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 3 | $563K | 6.5% | |
| 4 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 3 | $349K | 6.5% | |
| 5 | Southern Development CouncilMountain Brook, AL · CDC | 2 | — | 4.3% | |
| 6 | BankPlusBelzoni, MS | 2 | — | 4.3% | |
| 7 | First Bank of AlabamaTalladega, AL | 2 | — | 4.3% | |
| 8 | Birmingham Citywide Local Development CompanyBirmingham, AL · CDC | 2 | — | 4.3% | |
| 9 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 4.3% | |
| 10 | BankFirst Financial ServicesColumbus, MS | 2 | — | 4.3% | |
| 11 | Capital Partners Certified Development CompanyAtlanta, GA · CDC | 1 | — | 2.2% | |
| 12 | Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc.Tallahassee, FL · CDC | 1 | — | 2.2% | |
| 13 | Bank OZKLittle Rock, AR | 1 | — | 2.2% | |
| 14 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 1 | — | 2.2% | |
| 15 | Renasant BankTupelo, MS | 1 | — | 2.2% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poultry and Egg ProductionNAICS 1123 | 22 | 47.8% | |
| 2 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 5 | 10.9% | |
| 3 | Building Material and Supplies DealersNAICS 4441 | 2 | 4.3% | |
| 4 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 2 | 4.3% | |
| 5 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 2 | 4.3% | |
| 6 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 1 | 2.2% | |
| 7 | Beverage ManufacturingNAICS 3121 | 1 | 2.2% | |
| 8 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 1 | 2.2% | |
| 9 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 1 | 2.2% | |
| 10 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 1 | 2.2% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 47.8% | |
| 2 | Construction | 7 | 15.2% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 4 | 8.7% | |
| 4 | Accommodation and Food Services | 3 | 6.5% | |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 6.5% | |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 6.5% | |
| 7 | Manufacturing | 1 | 2.2% | |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 2.2% |
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* | 3 | $2.6M | $428K | 0 | — | 3 | 15 |
| FY2025 | 13 | $11.5M | $350K | 0 | — | 13 | 82 |
| FY2024 | 7 | $4.1M | $150K | 2 | — | 9 | 77 |
| FY2023 | 4 | $1.1M | $42K | 2 | — | 6 | 24 |
| FY2022 | 10 | $6.1M | $362K | 1 | — | 11 | 78 |
| FY2021 | 6 | $2.4M | $216K | 1 | — | 7 | 32 |
| FY2020 | 8 | $2.9M | $115K | 1 | — | 9 | 26 |
| FY2019 | 3 | $1.7M | $150K | 0 | — | 3 | 16 |
| FY2018 | 4 | $2.2M | $138K | 2 | — | 6 | 10 |
| FY2017 | 9 | $5.5M | $220K | 1 | — | 10 | 78 |
| FY2016 | 7 | $2.9M | $150K | 0 | — | 7 | 17 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 35 approvals.
Against Alabama and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | DeKalb County | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 46 | 2,552 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 39.5 | 24.1 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $321K | $260K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $1.9M | $659K | $657K |
| Average approval | $851K | $696K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 13.0% | 13.7% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 6.4 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.8% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less13.0%6
- $50,001 to $150,00021.7%10
- $150,001 to $350,00015.2%7
- $350,001 to $1 million21.7%10
- $1 million to $2 million15.2%7
- Over $2 million13.0%6
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old67.4%31
- Startup, loan funds will open the business19.6%9
- Change of ownership13.0%6
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in DeKalb County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: First Financial Bank (11), Live Oak Banking Company (7), Northeast Bank (3), Celtic Bank Corporation (3), Southern Development Council (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in DeKalb County?
The median 7(a) approval was $321K and the median 504 approval $1.9M; the Alabama 7(a) median was $260K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in DeKalb County?
Poultry and Egg Production (22); Building Equipment Contractors (5); Building Material and Supplies Dealers (2); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (2); Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (2).
Is SBA lending in DeKalb County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 28, against 27 in the three before: broadly level (+4%).
How does DeKalb County compare with the rest of Alabama?
39.5 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 24.1 statewide, and 46 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