States › Louisiana › Rapides Parish
County14th of 61 in Louisiana by approvalsFIPS 22079
SBA loans in Rapides Parish, Louisiana
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 Rapides Parish, Louisiana, received 39 SBA loan approvals worth $28.3M in FY2021 to FY2025 (37 7(a), 2 504).
That is 12.3 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (3,172 establishments in 2023), below the Louisiana figure of 22.6 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 14th of 61 Louisiana counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 4.
20 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Red River Bank (10), American Bank (4) and BayFirst National Bank (3). 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 Rapides Parish
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 20 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red River BankAlexandria, LA | 10 | $4.8M | 25.6% | |
| 2 | American BankCovington, LA | 4 | $1.1M | 10.3% | |
| 3 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 3 | $1.9M | 7.7% | |
| 4 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 3 | $1.1M | 7.7% | |
| 5 | First Bank of the LakeOsage Beach, MO | 2 | — | 5.1% | |
| 6 | Byline BankChicago, IL | 2 | — | 5.1% | |
| 7 | Southern Heritage BankJonesville, LA | 2 | — | 5.1% | |
| 8 | Commonwealth Business BankLos Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 9 | BOM BankNatchitoches, LA | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 10 | First Guaranty BankHammond, LA | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 11 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 12 | Regions BankBirmingham, AL | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 13 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 14 | Bank of America, National AssociationCharlotte, NC | 1 | — | 2.6% | |
| 15 | Louisiana Capital Certified Development Company, Inc.Lafayette, LA · CDC | 1 | — | 2.6% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 5 | 12.8% | |
| 2 | Computer Systems Design and Related ServicesNAICS 5415 | 3 | 7.7% | |
| 3 | Child Day Care ServicesNAICS 6244 | 3 | 7.7% | |
| 4 | Remediation and Other Waste Management ServicesNAICS 5629 | 2 | 5.1% | |
| 5 | Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4237 | 2 | 5.1% | |
| 6 | Amusement Parks and ArcadesNAICS 7131 | 2 | 5.1% | |
| 7 | Home Health Care ServicesNAICS 6216 | 2 | 5.1% | |
| 8 | Clothing StoresNAICS 4481 | 2 | 5.1% | |
| 9 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 1 | 2.6% | |
| 10 | Other Miscellaneous Store RetailersNAICS 4539 | 1 | 2.6% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 20.5% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 6 | 15.4% | |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 6 | 15.4% | |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 12.8% | |
| 5 | Wholesale Trade | 3 | 7.7% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 7.7% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2 | 5.1% | |
| 8 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2 | 5.1% |
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* | 3 | $1.1M | $350K | 0 | — | 3 | 6 |
| FY2025 | 4 | $2.7M | $167K | 0 | — | 4 | 177 |
| FY2024 | 6 | $5.8M | $250K | 1 | — | 7 | 66 |
| FY2023 | 10 | $4.2M | $175K | 1 | — | 11 | 304 |
| FY2022 | 8 | $10.1M | $471K | 0 | — | 8 | 144 |
| FY2021 | 9 | $5.0M | $495K | 0 | — | 9 | 113 |
| FY2020 | 8 | $7.2M | $70K | 0 | — | 8 | 65 |
| FY2019 | 9 | $2.1M | $150K | 0 | — | 9 | 137 |
| FY2018 | 12 | $21.7M | $668K | 0 | — | 12 | 178 |
| FY2017 | 4 | $632K | $164K | 0 | — | 4 | 33 |
| FY2016 | 9 | $3.0M | $150K | 0 | — | 9 | 165 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 42 approvals.
Against Louisiana and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Rapides Parish | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 39 | 2,452 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 12.3 | 22.6 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $256K | $250K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $588K | $657K |
| Average approval | $725K | $655K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 5.1% | 4.9% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 20.6 | 12.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.6% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less12.8%5
- $50,001 to $150,00023.1%9
- $150,001 to $350,00025.6%10
- $350,001 to $1 million17.9%7
- $1 million to $2 million10.3%4
- Over $2 million10.3%4
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old41.0%16
- New business, 2 years or less23.1%9
- Startup, loan funds will open the business25.6%10
- Change of ownership10.3%4
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Rapides Parish?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Red River Bank (10), American Bank (4), BayFirst National Bank (3), The Huntington National Bank (3), First Bank of the Lake (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Rapides Parish?
The median 7(a) approval was $256K; the Louisiana 7(a) median was $250K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Rapides Parish?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (5); Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3); Child Day Care Services (3); Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (2); Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (2).
Is SBA lending in Rapides Parish rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 22, against 25 in the three before: falling (-12%).
How does Rapides Parish compare with the rest of Louisiana?
12.3 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 22.6 statewide, and 39 of the state's 2,452 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