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County5th of 71 in Arkansas by approvalsFIPS 05051
SBA loans in Garland 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.
Businesses in Garland County, Arkansas, received 88 SBA loan approvals worth $31.2M in FY2021 to FY2025 (82 7(a), 6 504).
That is 29.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,953 establishments in 2023), above the Arkansas figure of 23.9 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 5th of 71 Arkansas counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 19.
32 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Arvest Bank (20), Southern Bancorp Bank (12) and U.S. Bank, National Association (8). The most common industry was offices of other health practitioners.
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 Garland County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 32 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arvest BankFayetteville, AR | 20 | $3.8M | 22.7% | |
| 2 | Southern Bancorp BankArkadelphia, AR | 12 | $2.9M | 13.6% | |
| 3 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 8 | $775K | 9.1% | |
| 4 | Bank OZKLittle Rock, AR | 4 | $5.7M | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Rural Missouri, Inc.Jefferson City, MO · CDC | 4 | $2.1M | 4.5% | |
| 6 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 4 | $525K | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Six Bridges Capital CorporationLittle Rock, AR · CDC | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 8 | Truliant FCUWinston-Salem, NC | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 9 | Arkansas FCULittle Rock, AR | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 10 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 11 | First Security BankSearcy, AR | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 12 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 13 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 14 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 15 | FNBC BankAsh Flat, AR | 2 | — | 2.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 13 | 14.8% | |
| 2 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 12 | 13.6% | |
| 3 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 5 | 5.7% | |
| 4 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 6 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies StoresNAICS 4442 | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 8 | Other Schools and InstructionNAICS 6116 | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 9 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 2 | 2.3% | |
| 10 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 2.3% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 18 | 20.5% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 14 | 15.9% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 12 | 13.6% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 12 | 13.6% | |
| 5 | Construction | 9 | 10.2% | |
| 6 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 6 | 6.8% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 6.8% | |
| 8 | Manufacturing | 4 | 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* | 8 | $1.3M | $102K | 2 | — | 10 | 54 |
| FY2025 | 19 | $8.7M | $150K | 0 | — | 19 | 230 |
| FY2024 | 9 | $5.7M | $150K | 0 | — | 9 | 50 |
| FY2023 | 12 | $2.3M | $111K | 1 | — | 13 | 157 |
| FY2022 | 19 | $2.6M | $90K | 1 | — | 20 | 132 |
| FY2021 | 23 | $6.8M | $140K | 4 | $3.5M | 27 | 371 |
| FY2020 | 17 | $5.6M | $53K | 3 | $3.4M | 20 | 145 |
| FY2019 | 20 | $4.3M | $139K | 2 | — | 22 | 88 |
| FY2018 | 16 | $2.8M | $100K | 0 | — | 16 | 173 |
| FY2017 | 21 | $3.6M | $54K | 0 | — | 21 | 107 |
| FY2016 | 17 | $5.0M | $50K | 1 | — | 18 | 204 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 97 approvals.
Against Arkansas and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Garland County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 88 | 1,686 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 29.8 | 23.9 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $126K | $234K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $828K | $569K | $657K |
| Average approval | $355K | $622K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 6.8% | 7.2% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 10.7 | 10.5 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 5.2% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less25.0%22
- $50,001 to $150,00034.1%30
- $150,001 to $350,00017.0%15
- $350,001 to $1 million12.5%11
- $1 million to $2 million10.2%9
- Over $2 million1.1%1
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old37.5%33
- New business, 2 years or less10.2%9
- Startup, loan funds will open the business36.4%32
- Change of ownership15.9%14
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Garland County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Arvest Bank (20), Southern Bancorp Bank (12), U.S. Bank, National Association (8), Bank OZK (4), Rural Missouri, Inc. (4). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Garland County?
The median 7(a) approval was $126K and the median 504 approval $828K; the Arkansas 7(a) median was $234K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Garland County?
Offices of Other Health Practitioners (13); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (12); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (5); Personal Care Services (4); Building Equipment Contractors (4).
Is SBA lending in Garland County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 41, against 67 in the three before: falling (-39%).
How does Garland County compare with the rest of Arkansas?
29.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 23.9 statewide, and 88 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