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County9th of 64 in Alabama by approvalsFIPS 01069
SBA loans in Houston 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 67 loans to businesses in Houston County, Alabama, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $41.1M: 58 under 7(a) and 9 under 504.
That is 23.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,859 establishments in 2023), close to the Alabama figure of 24.1 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 9th of 64 Alabama counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 10, down 29% on FY2024.
27 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Wells Fargo Bank National Association (9), Friend Bank (6) and Birmingham Citywide Local Development Company (5). 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 Houston County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 27 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 9 | $2.0M | 13.4% | |
| 2 | Friend BankSlocomb, AL | 6 | $505K | 9.0% | |
| 3 | Birmingham Citywide Local Development CompanyBirmingham, AL · CDC | 5 | $3.4M | 7.5% | |
| 4 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 5 | $418K | 7.5% | |
| 5 | MidSouth BankDothan, AL | 4 | $1.2M | 6.0% | |
| 6 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 4 | $1.0M | 6.0% | |
| 7 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 3 | $5.4M | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Southern Development CouncilMountain Brook, AL · CDC | 3 | $2.1M | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 3 | $860K | 4.5% | |
| 10 | PromiseOne BankDuluth, GA | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 11 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 12 | First Port City BankBainbridge, GA | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 13 | Regions BankBirmingham, AL | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 14 | Troy Bank & Trust CompanyTroy, AL | 2 | — | 3.0% | |
| 15 | Pathward National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 2 | — | 3.0% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 13 | 19.4% | |
| 2 | Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4233 | 4 | 6.0% | |
| 3 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 4 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Computer Systems Design and Related ServicesNAICS 5415 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 6 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesNAICS 5416 | 3 | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 2 | 3.0% | |
| 8 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 2 | 3.0% | |
| 9 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 2 | 3.0% | |
| 10 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 2 | 3.0% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 16 | 23.9% | |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 10.4% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 6 | 9.0% | |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 6 | 9.0% | |
| 5 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 5 | 7.5% | |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 7.5% | |
| 7 | Retail Trade | 5 | 7.5% | |
| 8 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 4 | 6.0% |
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* | 6 | $4.2M | $784K | 1 | — | 7 | 74 |
| FY2025 | 10 | $2.7M | $200K | 0 | — | 10 | 170 |
| FY2024 | 12 | $3.2M | $65K | 2 | — | 14 | 146 |
| FY2023 | 11 | $6.9M | $295K | 2 | — | 13 | 71 |
| FY2022 | 7 | $4.4M | $292K | 4 | $2.7M | 11 | 116 |
| FY2021 | 18 | $18.0M | $260K | 1 | — | 19 | 456 |
| FY2020 | 6 | $1.9M | $158K | 0 | — | 6 | 42 |
| FY2019 | 12 | $12.4M | $137K | 1 | — | 13 | 184 |
| FY2018 | 10 | $8.1M | $214K | 0 | — | 10 | 236 |
| FY2017 | 11 | $6.8M | $350K | 0 | — | 11 | 144 |
| FY2016 | 11 | $3.8M | $150K | 0 | — | 11 | 98 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 51 approvals.
Against Alabama and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Houston County | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 67 | 2,552 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 23.4 | 24.1 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $182K | $260K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $563K | $659K | $657K |
| Average approval | $613K | $696K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 13.4% | 13.7% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 14.3 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 2.6% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less25.4%17
- $50,001 to $150,00016.4%11
- $150,001 to $350,00013.4%9
- $350,001 to $1 million26.9%18
- $1 million to $2 million11.9%8
- Over $2 million6.0%4
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old43.3%29
- New business, 2 years or less29.9%20
- Startup, loan funds will open the business16.4%11
- Change of ownership10.4%7
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Houston County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Wells Fargo Bank National Association (9), Friend Bank (6), Birmingham Citywide Local Development Company (5), Northeast Bank (5), MidSouth Bank (4). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Houston County?
The median 7(a) approval was $182K and the median 504 approval $563K; the Alabama 7(a) median was $260K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Houston County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (13); Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers (4); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (3); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (3); Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3).
Is SBA lending in Houston County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 37, against 36 in the three before: broadly level (+3%).
How does Houston County compare with the rest of Alabama?
23.4 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 24.1 statewide, and 67 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