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County16th of 64 in Alabama by approvalsFIPS 01083
SBA loans in Limestone 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 35 loans to businesses in Limestone County, Alabama, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $26.6M: 26 under 7(a) and 9 under 504.
That is 21.5 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,629 establishments in 2023), close to the Alabama figure of 24.1 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 16th of 64 Alabama counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 11.
20 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Southern Development Council (5), Northeast Bank (5) and Birmingham Citywide Local Development Company (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 Limestone County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 20 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Development CouncilMountain Brook, AL · CDC | 5 | $4.7M | 14.3% | |
| 2 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 5 | $1.5M | 14.3% | |
| 3 | Birmingham Citywide Local Development CompanyBirmingham, AL · CDC | 3 | $4.4M | 8.6% | |
| 4 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 2 | — | 5.7% | |
| 5 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 2 | — | 5.7% | |
| 6 | SouthState Bank, National AssociationWinter Haven, FL | 2 | — | 5.7% | |
| 7 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 2 | — | 5.7% | |
| 8 | PNC Bank, National AssociationWilmington, DE | 2 | — | 5.7% | |
| 9 | Enterprise Bank & TrustClayton, MO | 1 | — | 2.9% | |
| 10 | First Internet Bank of IndianaFishers, IN | 1 | — | 2.9% | |
| 11 | First Bank of the LakeOsage Beach, MO | 1 | — | 2.9% | |
| 12 | KeyBank National AssociationCleveland, OH | 1 | — | 2.9% | |
| 13 | Seacoast National BankStuart, FL | 1 | — | 2.9% | |
| 14 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 1 | — | 2.9% | |
| 15 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 1 | — | 2.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 4 | 11.4% | |
| 2 | Other Schools and InstructionNAICS 6116 | 2 | 5.7% | |
| 3 | Child Day Care ServicesNAICS 6244 | 2 | 5.7% | |
| 4 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 2 | 5.7% | |
| 5 | Other Fabricated Metal Product ManufacturingNAICS 3329 | 2 | 5.7% | |
| 6 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 2 | 5.7% | |
| 7 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 2 | 5.7% | |
| 8 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 1 | 2.9% | |
| 9 | Death Care ServicesNAICS 8122 | 1 | 2.9% | |
| 10 | Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4234 | 1 | 2.9% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 5 | 14.3% | |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 14.3% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 5 | 14.3% | |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 4 | 11.4% | |
| 5 | Educational Services | 3 | 8.6% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 8.6% | |
| 7 | Construction | 3 | 8.6% | |
| 8 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 5.7% |
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* | 5 | $3.5M | $209K | 1 | — | 6 | 24 |
| FY2025 | 9 | $4.6M | $500K | 2 | — | 11 | 62 |
| FY2024 | 6 | $4.5M | $195K | 2 | — | 8 | 81 |
| FY2023 | 5 | $5.8M | $265K | 2 | — | 7 | 163 |
| FY2022 | 4 | $1.3M | $275K | 0 | — | 4 | 30 |
| FY2021 | 2 | — | — | 3 | $2.3M | 5 | 60 |
| FY2020 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 4 |
| FY2019 | 5 | $3.8M | $475K | 0 | — | 5 | 22 |
| FY2018 | 3 | $444K | $150K | 0 | — | 3 | 6 |
| FY2017 | 6 | $2.2M | $78K | 0 | — | 6 | 80 |
| FY2016 | 8 | $1.7M | $160K | 1 | — | 9 | 139 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 24 approvals.
Against Alabama and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Limestone County | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 35 | 2,552 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 21.5 | 24.1 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $258K | $260K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $391K | $659K | $657K |
| Average approval | $759K | $696K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 25.7% | 13.7% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 11.3 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.4% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less8.6%3
- $50,001 to $150,0008.6%3
- $150,001 to $350,00037.1%13
- $350,001 to $1 million22.9%8
- $1 million to $2 million14.3%5
- Over $2 million8.6%3
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old57.1%20
- New business, 2 years or less17.1%6
- Startup, loan funds will open the business20.0%7
- Change of ownership5.7%2
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Limestone County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Southern Development Council (5), Northeast Bank (5), Birmingham Citywide Local Development Company (3), Pinnacle Bank (2), The Huntington National Bank (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Limestone County?
The median 7(a) approval was $258K and the median 504 approval $391K; the Alabama 7(a) median was $260K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Limestone County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (4); Other Schools and Instruction (2); Child Day Care Services (2); Gasoline Stations (2); Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (2).
Is SBA lending in Limestone County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 26, against 10 in the three before: rising (+160%).
How does Limestone County compare with the rest of Alabama?
21.5 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 24.1 statewide, and 35 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