States › Montana › Cascade County
County5th of 47 in Montana by approvalsFIPS 30013
SBA loans in Cascade County, Montana
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 86 loans to businesses in Cascade County, Montana, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $44.1M: 69 under 7(a) and 17 under 504.
That is 34.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,472 establishments in 2023), close to the Montana figure of 30.8 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 5th of 47 Montana counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 28, up 33% on FY2024.
23 lenders had approvals here; the most active were U.S. Bank, National Association (19), High Plains Financial, Inc. (9) and Wells Fargo Bank National Association (7). 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 Cascade County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 23 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 19 | $1.9M | 22.1% | |
| 2 | High Plains Financial, Inc.Great Falls, MT · CDC | 9 | $7.3M | 10.5% | |
| 3 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 7 | $73K | 8.1% | |
| 4 | Bravera BankDickinson, ND | 6 | $925K | 7.0% | |
| 5 | Big Sky Economic Development CorporationBillings, MT · CDC | 5 | $3.3M | 5.8% | |
| 6 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 5 | $2.2M | 5.8% | |
| 7 | First Interstate BankBillings, MT | 5 | $657K | 5.8% | |
| 8 | Wallis BankWallis, TX | 4 | $5.1M | 4.7% | |
| 9 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 4 | $221K | 4.7% | |
| 10 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 3 | $284K | 3.5% | |
| 11 | Citizens Alliance BankClara City, MN | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 12 | Bank of the RockiesHelena, MT | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 13 | Capital Matrix, Inc.Boise, ID · CDC | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 14 | First Bank of the LakeOsage Beach, MO | 2 | — | 2.3% | |
| 15 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 2 | — | 2.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 7 | 8.1% | |
| 2 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 6 | 7.0% | |
| 3 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 6 | 7.0% | |
| 4 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 5 | 5.8% | |
| 5 | Gasoline StationsNAICS 4571 | 4 | 4.7% | |
| 6 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 4 | 4.7% | |
| 7 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 3 | 3.5% | |
| 8 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 3 | 3.5% | |
| 9 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 3 | 3.5% | |
| 10 | Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4231 | 3 | 3.5% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 17 | 19.8% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 12 | 14.0% | |
| 3 | Construction | 9 | 10.5% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 8 | 9.3% | |
| 5 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8 | 9.3% | |
| 6 | Accommodation and Food Services | 7 | 8.1% | |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 6 | 7.0% | |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 6 | 7.0% |
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 | $445K | $70K | 2 | — | 7 | 51 |
| FY2025 | 23 | $5.7M | $150K | 5 | $2.3M | 28 | 171 |
| FY2024 | 17 | $7.5M | $149K | 4 | $8.1M | 21 | 189 |
| FY2023 | 8 | $699K | $40K | 3 | $1.8M | 11 | 64 |
| FY2022 | 11 | $8.5M | $290K | 2 | — | 13 | 114 |
| FY2021 | 10 | $7.1M | $23K | 3 | $1.1M | 13 | 79 |
| FY2020 | 6 | $1.9M | $35K | 2 | — | 8 | 29 |
| FY2019 | 5 | $502K | $51K | 0 | — | 5 | 32 |
| FY2018 | 9 | $1.1M | $30K | 2 | — | 11 | 72 |
| FY2017 | 9 | $1.3M | $25K | 3 | $1.1M | 12 | 77 |
| FY2016 | 14 | $3.3M | $140K | 7 | $2.8M | 21 | 163 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 57 approvals.
Against Montana and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Cascade County | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 86 | 1,312 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 34.8 | 30.8 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $144K | $200K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $512K | $469K | $657K |
| Average approval | $513K | $561K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 19.8% | 17.9% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 7.2 | 9.7 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 6.6% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less33.7%29
- $50,001 to $150,00018.6%16
- $150,001 to $350,00015.1%13
- $350,001 to $1 million17.4%15
- $1 million to $2 million8.1%7
- Over $2 million7.0%6
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old47.7%41
- New business, 2 years or less24.4%21
- Startup, loan funds will open the business14.0%12
- Change of ownership14.0%12
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Cascade County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: U.S. Bank, National Association (19), High Plains Financial, Inc. (9), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (7), Bravera Bank (6), Big Sky Economic Development Corporation (5). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Cascade County?
The median 7(a) approval was $144K and the median 504 approval $512K; the Montana 7(a) median was $200K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Cascade County?
Offices of Other Health Practitioners (7); Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (6); Services to Buildings and Dwellings (6); Residential Building Construction (5); Gasoline Stations (4).
Is SBA lending in Cascade County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 60, against 34 in the three before: rising (+76%).
How does Cascade County compare with the rest of Montana?
34.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 30.8 statewide, and 86 of the state's 1,312 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