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County8th of 71 in Arkansas by approvalsFIPS 05031
SBA loans in Craighead County, Arkansas
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 44 loans to businesses in Craighead County, Arkansas, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $38.6M: 42 under 7(a) and 2 under 504.
That is 15.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,788 establishments in 2023), below the Arkansas figure of 23.9 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 8th of 71 Arkansas counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 12.
22 lenders had approvals here; the most active were FNBC Bank (6), Southern Bancorp Bank (4) and Simmons Bank (4). 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 Craighead County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 22 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FNBC BankAsh Flat, AR | 6 | $4.1M | 13.6% | |
| 2 | Southern Bancorp BankArkadelphia, AR | 4 | $1.2M | 9.1% | |
| 3 | Simmons BankPine Bluff, AR | 4 | $873K | 9.1% | |
| 4 | Arvest BankFayetteville, AR | 3 | $2.7M | 6.8% | |
| 5 | First Service BankGreenbrier, AR | 3 | $2.6M | 6.8% | |
| 6 | Encore BankLittle Rock, AR | 3 | $2.1M | 6.8% | |
| 7 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 8 | ACC CapitalLittle Rock, AR | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Rural Missouri, Inc.Jefferson City, MO · CDC | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 10 | First Guaranty BankHammond, LA | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 11 | First Security BankSearcy, AR | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 12 | Evolve Bank and TrustWest Memphis, AR | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 13 | Midwest BankCentreSaint Louis, MO | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 14 | Customers BankMalvern, PA | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 15 | Citizens BankElizabethton, TN | 1 | — | 2.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 15.9% | |
| 2 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 4 | 9.1% | |
| 3 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 3 | 6.8% | |
| 4 | Specialty Food StoresNAICS 4452 | 3 | 6.8% | |
| 5 | Child Day Care ServicesNAICS 6244 | 3 | 6.8% | |
| 6 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Architectural and Structural Metals ManufacturingNAICS 3323 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 8 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 10 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 4.5% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 9 | 20.5% | |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 20.5% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 6 | 13.6% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 11.4% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 4 | 9.1% | |
| 6 | Construction | 4 | 9.1% | |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 2 | 4.5% |
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 | 9 |
| FY2025 | 12 | $11.8M | $646K | 0 | — | 12 | 160 |
| FY2024 | 8 | $7.9M | $353K | 0 | — | 8 | 115 |
| FY2023 | 9 | $5.0M | $272K | 0 | — | 9 | 146 |
| FY2022 | 5 | $2.7M | $496K | 2 | — | 7 | 149 |
| FY2021 | 8 | $10.0M | $905K | 0 | — | 8 | 163 |
| FY2020 | 9 | $1.4M | $179K | 0 | — | 9 | 21 |
| FY2019 | 9 | $2.2M | $150K | 0 | — | 9 | 59 |
| FY2018 | 8 | $5.1M | $213K | 1 | — | 9 | 346 |
| FY2017 | 5 | $6.3M | $568K | 0 | — | 5 | 247 |
| FY2016 | 3 | $1.2M | $350K | 0 | — | 3 | 31 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 35 approvals.
Against Arkansas and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Craighead County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 44 | 1,686 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 15.8 | 23.9 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $511K | $234K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $569K | $657K |
| Average approval | $877K | $622K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 4.5% | 7.2% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 16.7 | 10.5 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 2.6% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less9.1%4
- $50,001 to $150,0009.1%4
- $150,001 to $350,00020.5%9
- $350,001 to $1 million38.6%17
- $1 million to $2 million9.1%4
- Over $2 million13.6%6
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old31.8%14
- New business, 2 years or less15.9%7
- Startup, loan funds will open the business45.5%20
- Change of ownership6.8%3
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Craighead County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: FNBC Bank (6), Southern Bancorp Bank (4), Simmons Bank (4), Arvest Bank (3), First Service Bank (3). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Craighead County?
The median 7(a) approval was $511K; the Arkansas 7(a) median was $234K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Craighead County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (4); Personal Care Services (3); Specialty Food Stores (3); Child Day Care Services (3).
Is SBA lending in Craighead County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 29, against 24 in the three before: rising (+21%).
How does Craighead County compare with the rest of Arkansas?
15.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 23.9 statewide, and 44 of the state's 1,686 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