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County23rd of 92 in Illinois by approvalsFIPS 17081
SBA loans in Jefferson County, Illinois
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 41 loans to businesses in Jefferson County, Illinois, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $28.0M: 40 under 7(a) and 1 under 504.
That is 46.5 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (882 establishments in 2023), above the Illinois figure of 38.5 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 23rd of 92 Illinois counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 3.
9 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Community First Bank of the Heartland (21), Peoples National Bank National Association (5) and Legence Bank (5). 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 Jefferson County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 9 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community First Bank of the HeartlandMount Vernon, IL | 21 | $7.6M | 51.2% | |
| 2 | Peoples National Bank National AssociationMcLeansboro, IL | 5 | $7.2M | 12.2% | |
| 3 | Legence BankEldorado, IL | 5 | $2.2M | 12.2% | |
| 4 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 3 | $40K | 7.3% | |
| 5 | First Internet Bank of IndianaFishers, IN | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 6 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Shoreham BankWarwick, RI | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 8 | Everwise Credit UnionSouth Bend, IN | 1 | — | 2.4% | |
| 9 | Small Business Growth CorporationSpringfield, IL · CDC | 1 | — | 2.4% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 4 | 9.8% | |
| 2 | Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse FacilitiesNAICS 6232 | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 3 | Other Support ServicesNAICS 5619 | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 4 | Other General Purpose Machinery ManufacturingNAICS 3339 | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 5 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 3 | 7.3% | |
| 6 | Other Fabricated Metal Product ManufacturingNAICS 3329 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 8 | Building Finishing ContractorsNAICS 2383 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 9 | Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar EventsNAICS 7113 | 2 | 4.9% | |
| 10 | Grocery and Related Product Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4244 | 1 | 2.4% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 6 | 14.6% | |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 6 | 14.6% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 12.2% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 12.2% | |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4 | 9.8% | |
| 6 | Transportation and Warehousing | 4 | 9.8% | |
| 7 | Construction | 4 | 9.8% | |
| 8 | Retail Trade | 2 | 4.9% |
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 | $10.0M | $1.6M | 0 | — | 5 | 42 |
| FY2025 | 3 | $3.3M | $200K | 0 | — | 3 | 92 |
| FY2024 | 7 | $4.8M | $200K | 0 | — | 7 | 249 |
| FY2023 | 7 | $4.3M | $280K | 0 | — | 7 | 61 |
| FY2022 | 12 | $11.2M | $440K | 1 | — | 13 | 127 |
| FY2021 | 11 | $3.8M | $230K | 0 | — | 11 | 82 |
| FY2020 | 18 | $9.8M | $91K | 0 | — | 18 | 155 |
| FY2019 | 8 | $2.0M | $278K | 1 | — | 9 | 66 |
| FY2018 | 14 | $6.1M | $131K | 0 | — | 14 | 124 |
| FY2017 | 10 | $3.8M | $155K | 1 | — | 11 | 233 |
| FY2016 | 23 | $2.9M | $50K | 2 | — | 25 | 119 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 77 approvals.
Against Illinois and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Jefferson County | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 41 | 12,417 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 46.5 | 38.5 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $240K | $200K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $578K | $657K |
| Average approval | $682K | $581K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 2.4% | 14.2% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 14.9 | 11.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.3% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less14.6%6
- $50,001 to $150,00024.4%10
- $150,001 to $350,00024.4%10
- $350,001 to $1 million19.5%8
- $1 million to $2 million2.4%1
- Over $2 million14.6%6
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old51.2%21
- New business, 2 years or less19.5%8
- Startup, loan funds will open the business17.1%7
- Change of ownership12.2%5
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Jefferson County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Community First Bank of the Heartland (21), Peoples National Bank National Association (5), Legence Bank (5), U.S. Bank, National Association (3), First Internet Bank of Indiana (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Jefferson County?
The median 7(a) approval was $240K; the Illinois 7(a) median was $200K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Jefferson County?
Traveler Accommodation (4); Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (3); Other Support Services (3); Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3); Personal Care Services (3).
Is SBA lending in Jefferson County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 17, against 42 in the three before: falling (-60%).
How does Jefferson County compare with the rest of Illinois?
46.5 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 38.5 statewide, and 41 of the state's 12,417 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