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County1st of 71 in Arkansas by approvalsFIPS 05119
SBA loans in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Arkansas, received 249 SBA loan approvals worth $155M in FY2021 to FY2025 (234 7(a), 15 504).
That is 20.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (12,185 establishments in 2023), close to the Arkansas figure of 23.9 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 1st of 71 Arkansas counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 65, up 35% on FY2024.
61 lenders had approvals here; the most active were U.S. Bank, National Association (39), Arvest Bank (21) and Rural Missouri, Inc. (14). 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 Pulaski County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 61 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 39 | $1.7M | 15.7% | |
| 2 | Arvest BankFayetteville, AR | 21 | $6.1M | 8.4% | |
| 3 | Rural Missouri, Inc.Jefferson City, MO · CDC | 14 | $10.2M | 5.6% | |
| 4 | First Financial BankEl Dorado, AR | 13 | $8.7M | 5.2% | |
| 5 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 12 | $9.3M | 4.8% | |
| 6 | Southern Bancorp BankArkadelphia, AR | 11 | $7.9M | 4.4% | |
| 7 | ACC CapitalLittle Rock, AR | 9 | $3.0M | 3.6% | |
| 8 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 9 | $1.0M | 3.6% | |
| 9 | Encore BankLittle Rock, AR | 8 | $4.0M | 3.2% | |
| 10 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 8 | $1.2M | 3.2% | |
| 11 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 6 | $6.2M | 2.4% | |
| 12 | First Security BankSearcy, AR | 6 | $1.1M | 2.4% | |
| 13 | FNBC BankAsh Flat, AR | 5 | $8.2M | 2.0% | |
| 14 | Regions BankBirmingham, AL | 5 | $5.2M | 2.0% | |
| 15 | First Service BankGreenbrier, AR | 5 | $3.4M | 2.0% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 16 | 6.4% | |
| 2 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 13 | 5.2% | |
| 3 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 12 | 4.8% | |
| 4 | Beer, Wine, and Liquor StoresNAICS 4453 | 10 | 4.0% | |
| 5 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 9 | 3.6% | |
| 6 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 9 | 3.6% | |
| 7 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 7 | 2.8% | |
| 8 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 7 | 2.8% | |
| 9 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 7 | 2.8% | |
| 10 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 7 | 2.8% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 39 | 15.7% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 31 | 12.4% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 31 | 12.4% | |
| 4 | Construction | 27 | 10.8% | |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 26 | 10.4% | |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 8.8% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 14 | 5.6% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 13 | 5.2% |
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* | 47 | $36.3M | $232K | 3 | $6.6M | 50 | 528 |
| FY2025 | 64 | $46.8M | $266K | 1 | — | 65 | 787 |
| FY2024 | 44 | $24.9M | $172K | 4 | $2.1M | 48 | 454 |
| FY2023 | 47 | $23.6M | $150K | 0 | — | 47 | 540 |
| FY2022 | 43 | $19.6M | $150K | 6 | $5.2M | 49 | 375 |
| FY2021 | 36 | $28.6M | $323K | 4 | $4.0M | 40 | 526 |
| FY2020 | 31 | $15.2M | $100K | 3 | $2.7M | 34 | 373 |
| FY2019 | 58 | $32.1M | $238K | 1 | — | 59 | 880 |
| FY2018 | 55 | $29.6M | $150K | 3 | $1.7M | 58 | 1,117 |
| FY2017 | 45 | $31.0M | $350K | 3 | $3.6M | 48 | 718 |
| FY2016 | 45 | $26.3M | $220K | 0 | — | 45 | 752 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 244 approvals.
Against Arkansas and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Pulaski County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 249 | 1,686 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 20.4 | 23.9 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $175K | $234K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $580K | $569K | $657K |
| Average approval | $622K | $622K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 6.0% | 7.2% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 10.8 | 10.5 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 14.8% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less24.1%60
- $50,001 to $150,00021.7%54
- $150,001 to $350,00016.1%40
- $350,001 to $1 million18.5%46
- $1 million to $2 million11.6%29
- Over $2 million8.0%20
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old50.2%125
- New business, 2 years or less16.1%40
- Startup, loan funds will open the business22.5%56
- Change of ownership11.2%28
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Pulaski County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: U.S. Bank, National Association (39), Arvest Bank (21), Rural Missouri, Inc. (14), First Financial Bank (13), The Huntington National Bank (12). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Pulaski County?
The median 7(a) approval was $175K and the median 504 approval $580K; the Arkansas 7(a) median was $234K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Pulaski County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (16); Traveler Accommodation (13); Personal Care Services (12); Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores (10); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (9).
Is SBA lending in Pulaski County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 160, against 123 in the three before: rising (+30%).
How does Pulaski County compare with the rest of Arkansas?
20.4 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 23.9 statewide, and 249 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