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County34th of 58 in California by approvalsFIPS 06023
SBA loans in Humboldt County, California
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 113 loans to businesses in Humboldt County, California, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $71.3M: 92 under 7(a) and 21 under 504.
That is 35.6 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (3,178 establishments in 2023), close to the California figure of 40.8 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 34th of 58 California counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 18, down 36% on FY2024.
31 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Redwood Capital Bank (24), Arcata Economic Development Corporation (17) and U.S. Bank, National Association (13). The most common industry was traveler accommodation.
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 Humboldt County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 31 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood Capital BankEureka, CA | 24 | $9.9M | 21.2% | |
| 2 | Arcata Economic Development CorporationEureka, CA · CDC | 17 | $11.0M | 15.0% | |
| 3 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 13 | $1.3M | 11.5% | |
| 4 | Columbia BankLake Oswego, OR | 12 | $471K | 10.6% | |
| 5 | Arcata Economic Development CorporationEureka, CA | 8 | $848K | 7.1% | |
| 6 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 4 | $5.5M | 3.5% | |
| 7 | Open BankLos Angeles, CA | 3 | $6.7M | 2.7% | |
| 8 | VelocitySBA, LLCIrving, TX | 3 | $3.5M | 2.7% | |
| 9 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 3 | $400K | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Exchange BankSanta Rosa, CA | 2 | — | 1.8% | |
| 11 | Mortgage Capital Development CorporationOakland, CA · CDC | 2 | — | 1.8% | |
| 12 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 2 | — | 1.8% | |
| 13 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 2 | — | 1.8% | |
| 14 | Commonwealth Business BankLos Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 0.9% | |
| 15 | Citizens BankElizabethton, TN | 1 | — | 0.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 12 | 10.6% | |
| 2 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 9 | 8.0% | |
| 3 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 6.2% | |
| 4 | Grocery StoresNAICS 4451 | 5 | 4.4% | |
| 5 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 5 | 4.4% | |
| 6 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 4 | 3.5% | |
| 7 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 4 | 3.5% | |
| 8 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 4 | 3.5% | |
| 9 | Beer, Wine, and Liquor StoresNAICS 4453 | 3 | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 2.7% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 25 | 22.1% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 24 | 21.2% | |
| 3 | Construction | 14 | 12.4% | |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 8.8% | |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 9 | 8.0% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 7 | 6.2% | |
| 7 | Manufacturing | 5 | 4.4% | |
| 8 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 4 | 3.5% |
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* | 22 | $9.4M | $65K | 5 | $3.4M | 27 | 240 |
| FY2025 | 15 | $10.1M | $100K | 3 | $644K | 18 | 148 |
| FY2024 | 23 | $5.2M | $50K | 5 | $4.2M | 28 | 209 |
| FY2023 | 27 | $15.7M | $111K | 3 | $5.3M | 30 | 503 |
| FY2022 | 9 | $5.4M | $198K | 2 | — | 11 | 144 |
| FY2021 | 18 | $17.9M | $434K | 8 | $6.4M | 26 | 223 |
| FY2020 | 11 | $2.3M | $147K | 0 | — | 11 | 110 |
| FY2019 | 7 | $2.7M | $181K | 2 | — | 9 | 88 |
| FY2018 | 17 | $2.6M | $75K | 3 | $1.5M | 20 | 106 |
| FY2017 | 33 | $15.8M | $197K | 6 | $2.8M | 39 | 350 |
| FY2016 | 18 | $5.3M | $145K | 3 | $2.2M | 21 | 328 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 100 approvals.
Against California and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Humboldt County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 113 | 42,016 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 35.6 | 40.8 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $105K | $250K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $325K | $884K | $657K |
| Average approval | $631K | $733K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 18.6% | 17.2% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 10.9 | 11.0 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.3% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less32.7%37
- $50,001 to $150,00013.3%15
- $150,001 to $350,00019.5%22
- $350,001 to $1 million13.3%15
- $1 million to $2 million9.7%11
- Over $2 million11.5%13
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old60.2%68
- New business, 2 years or less16.8%19
- Startup, loan funds will open the business12.4%14
- Change of ownership9.7%11
- Not answered0.9%1
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Humboldt County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Redwood Capital Bank (24), Arcata Economic Development Corporation (17), U.S. Bank, National Association (13), Columbia Bank (12), Arcata Economic Development Corporation (8). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Humboldt County?
The median 7(a) approval was $105K and the median 504 approval $325K; the California 7(a) median was $250K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Humboldt County?
Traveler Accommodation (12); Services to Buildings and Dwellings (9); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Grocery Stores (5); Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (5).
Is SBA lending in Humboldt County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 76, against 48 in the three before: rising (+58%).
How does Humboldt County compare with the rest of California?
35.6 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 40.8 statewide, and 113 of the state's 42,016 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