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County17th of 64 in Alabama by approvalsFIPS 01055
SBA loans in Etowah 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 30 loans to businesses in Etowah County, Alabama, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $21.7M: 27 under 7(a) and 3 under 504.
That is 15.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,954 establishments in 2023), below the Alabama figure of 24.1 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 17th of 64 Alabama counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 9.
19 lenders had approvals here; the most active were The Huntington National Bank (4), River Bank and Trust (3) and Regions Bank (3). The most common industry was building equipment contractors.
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 Etowah County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 19 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 4 | $1.5M | 13.3% | |
| 2 | River Bank and TrustPrattville, AL | 3 | $3.0M | 10.0% | |
| 3 | Regions BankBirmingham, AL | 3 | $2.9M | 10.0% | |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 3 | $2.1M | 10.0% | |
| 5 | Birmingham Citywide Local Development CompanyBirmingham, AL · CDC | 2 | — | 6.7% | |
| 6 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 6.7% | |
| 7 | Centerstone SBA Lending, Inc.Los Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 8 | United Community BankGreenville, SC | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 9 | GBankLas Vegas, NV | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 10 | Millennial BankLeeds, AL | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 11 | Florida Business Development CorporationTampa, FL · CDC | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 12 | Beacon Bank and TrustBrookline, MA | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 13 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 14 | CenTrust Bank, A Division of SmartBiz Bank National AssociationNorthbrook, IL | 1 | — | 3.3% | |
| 15 | SouthPoint BankBirmingham, AL | 1 | — | 3.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 10.0% | |
| 2 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 3 | 10.0% | |
| 3 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 2 | 6.7% | |
| 4 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 2 | 6.7% | |
| 5 | Individual and Family ServicesNAICS 6241 | 2 | 6.7% | |
| 6 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 2 | 6.7% | |
| 7 | Employment ServicesNAICS 5613 | 1 | 3.3% | |
| 8 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 1 | 3.3% | |
| 9 | Other Ambulatory Health Care ServicesNAICS 6219 | 1 | 3.3% | |
| 10 | Furniture and Home Furnishings RetailersNAICS 4491 | 1 | 3.3% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 5 | 16.7% | |
| 2 | Construction | 5 | 16.7% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 16.7% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 3 | 10.0% | |
| 5 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 10.0% | |
| 6 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2 | 6.7% | |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2 | 6.7% | |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 6.7% |
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* | 2 | — | — | 0 | — | 2 | 6 |
| FY2025 | 8 | $1.3M | $100K | 1 | — | 9 | 106 |
| FY2024 | 8 | $8.8M | $1.0M | 1 | — | 9 | 223 |
| FY2023 | 5 | $3.3M | $290K | 1 | — | 6 | 42 |
| FY2022 | 4 | $3.1M | $476K | 0 | — | 4 | 34 |
| FY2021 | 2 | — | — | 0 | — | 2 | 9 |
| FY2020 | 1 | — | — | 3 | $1.2M | 4 | 14 |
| FY2019 | 5 | $1.3M | $250K | 1 | — | 6 | 80 |
| FY2018 | 5 | $1.2M | $50K | 0 | — | 5 | 20 |
| FY2017 | 12 | $5.0M | $120K | 1 | — | 13 | 76 |
| FY2016 | 3 | $1.4M | $25K | 0 | — | 3 | 18 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 31 approvals.
Against Alabama and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Etowah County | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 30 | 2,552 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 15.4 | 24.1 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $317K | $260K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $1.1M | $659K | $657K |
| Average approval | $722K | $696K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 10.0% | 13.7% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 13.8 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.2% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less20.0%6
- $50,001 to $150,00016.7%5
- $150,001 to $350,00013.3%4
- $350,001 to $1 million20.0%6
- $1 million to $2 million23.3%7
- Over $2 million6.7%2
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old60.0%18
- New business, 2 years or less16.7%5
- Startup, loan funds will open the business6.7%2
- Change of ownership16.7%5
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Etowah County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: The Huntington National Bank (4), River Bank and Trust (3), Regions Bank (3), Newtek Bank, National Association (3), Birmingham Citywide Local Development Company (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Etowah County?
The median 7(a) approval was $317K and the median 504 approval $1.1M; the Alabama 7(a) median was $260K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Etowah County?
Building Equipment Contractors (3); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (3); Traveler Accommodation (2); Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (2); Individual and Family Services (2).
Is SBA lending in Etowah County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 24, against 10 in the three before: rising (+140%).
How does Etowah County compare with the rest of Alabama?
15.4 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 24.1 statewide, and 30 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