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County6th of 47 in Montana by approvalsFIPS 30049
SBA loans in Lewis and Clark 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 75 loans to businesses in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $48.1M: 65 under 7(a) and 10 under 504.
That is 28.8 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,603 establishments in 2023), close to the Montana figure of 30.8 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 6th of 47 Montana counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 27, up 93% on FY2024.
22 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Glacier Bank (18), Ascent Bank (9) and Bank of the Rockies (7). 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 Lewis and Clark County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 22 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glacier BankKalispell, MT | 18 | $5.8M | 24.0% | |
| 2 | Ascent BankHelena, MT | 9 | $5.1M | 12.0% | |
| 3 | Bank of the RockiesHelena, MT | 7 | $2.5M | 9.3% | |
| 4 | Big Sky Economic Development CorporationBillings, MT · CDC | 5 | $3.5M | 6.7% | |
| 5 | Bravera BankDickinson, ND | 5 | $1.7M | 6.7% | |
| 6 | First Montana Bank, Inc.Missoula, MT | 4 | $2.1M | 5.3% | |
| 7 | First Bank of the LakeOsage Beach, MO | 3 | $6.2M | 4.0% | |
| 8 | The Yellowstone BankLaurel, MT | 3 | $3.7M | 4.0% | |
| 9 | Dakota Business LendingFargo, ND · CDC | 3 | $1.1M | 4.0% | |
| 10 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 11 | HomeTrust BankAsheville, NC | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 12 | Farmers State BankVictor, MT | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 13 | First Interstate BankBillings, MT | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 14 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 15 | Bank of HopeLos Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 1.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 9.3% | |
| 2 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 5 | 6.7% | |
| 3 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 4 | 5.3% | |
| 4 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 4 | 5.3% | |
| 5 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 4 | 5.3% | |
| 6 | Special Food ServicesNAICS 7223 | 4 | 5.3% | |
| 7 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 8 | Offices of PhysiciansNAICS 6211 | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 9 | Child Day Care ServicesNAICS 6244 | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 10 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 2 | 2.7% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 13 | 17.3% | |
| 2 | Construction | 12 | 16.0% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 12 | 16.0% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 8 | 10.7% | |
| 5 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 7 | 9.3% | |
| 6 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 5 | 6.7% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 6.7% | |
| 8 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 4 | 5.3% |
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* | 14 | $11.0M | $265K | 1 | — | 15 | 96 |
| FY2025 | 23 | $8.2M | $255K | 4 | $1.4M | 27 | 207 |
| FY2024 | 13 | $13.2M | $540K | 1 | — | 14 | 224 |
| FY2023 | 10 | $3.9M | $200K | 0 | — | 10 | 88 |
| FY2022 | 9 | $11.8M | $791K | 2 | — | 11 | 254 |
| FY2021 | 10 | $5.3M | $248K | 3 | $2.4M | 13 | 81 |
| FY2020 | 7 | $7.4M | $950K | 1 | — | 8 | 99 |
| FY2019 | 8 | $2.1M | $134K | 0 | — | 8 | 74 |
| FY2018 | 13 | $4.2M | $150K | 0 | — | 13 | 90 |
| FY2017 | 23 | $5.1M | $50K | 1 | — | 24 | 97 |
| FY2016 | 21 | $3.5M | $52K | 0 | — | 21 | 106 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 74 approvals.
Against Montana and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 75 | 1,312 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 28.8 | 30.8 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $302K | $200K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $498K | $469K | $657K |
| Average approval | $642K | $561K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 13.3% | 17.9% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 11.4 | 9.7 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 5.7% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less14.7%11
- $50,001 to $150,00013.3%10
- $150,001 to $350,00025.3%19
- $350,001 to $1 million30.7%23
- $1 million to $2 million9.3%7
- Over $2 million6.7%5
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old37.3%28
- New business, 2 years or less24.0%18
- Startup, loan funds will open the business20.0%15
- Change of ownership18.7%14
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Lewis and Clark County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Glacier Bank (18), Ascent Bank (9), Bank of the Rockies (7), Big Sky Economic Development Corporation (5), Bravera Bank (5). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Lewis and Clark County?
The median 7(a) approval was $302K and the median 504 approval $498K; the Montana 7(a) median was $200K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Lewis and Clark County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (5); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (4); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (4); Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (4).
Is SBA lending in Lewis and Clark County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 51, against 32 in the three before: rising (+59%).
How does Lewis and Clark County compare with the rest of Montana?
28.8 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 30.8 statewide, and 75 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