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County5th of 41 in North Dakota by approvalsFIPS 38101
SBA loans in Ward County, North Dakota
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 Ward County, North Dakota, received 61 SBA loan approvals worth $22.4M in FY2021 to FY2025 (37 7(a), 24 504).
That is 29.9 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (2,043 establishments in 2023), below the North Dakota figure of 37.8 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 5th of 41 North Dakota counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 12, down 29% on FY2024.
16 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Dakota Business Lending (22), Town and Country CU (11) and U.S. Bank, National Association (6). 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 Ward County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 16 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dakota Business LendingFargo, ND · CDC | 22 | $9.2M | 36.1% | |
| 2 | Town and Country CUMinot, ND | 11 | $1.2M | 18.0% | |
| 3 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 6 | $105K | 9.8% | |
| 4 | First Western SBLC, LLCDallas, TX | 3 | $3.3M | 4.9% | |
| 5 | Old National BankEvansville, IN | 3 | $1.5M | 4.9% | |
| 6 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 3 | $390K | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Lake Agassiz Certified Development CompanyFargo, ND · CDC | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 8 | First Western Bank & TrustMinot, ND | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 9 | First International Bank and TrustWatford City, ND | 2 | — | 3.3% | |
| 10 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 1 | — | 1.6% | |
| 11 | First Bank of the LakeOsage Beach, MO | 1 | — | 1.6% | |
| 12 | Wallis BankWallis, TX | 1 | — | 1.6% | |
| 13 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 1 | — | 1.6% | |
| 14 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 1 | — | 1.6% | |
| 15 | Dacotah BankAberdeen, SD | 1 | — | 1.6% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 8 | 13.1% | |
| 2 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 6 | 9.8% | |
| 3 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 6 | 9.8% | |
| 4 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 4 | 6.6% | |
| 5 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 4.9% | |
| 6 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 3 | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 2 | 3.3% | |
| 8 | Services to Buildings and DwellingsNAICS 5617 | 2 | 3.3% | |
| 9 | Computer Systems Design and Related ServicesNAICS 5415 | 2 | 3.3% | |
| 10 | Specialty Food StoresNAICS 4452 | 2 | 3.3% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and Food Services | 13 | 21.3% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 10 | 16.4% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9 | 14.8% | |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 11.5% | |
| 5 | Construction | 7 | 11.5% | |
| 6 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 3 | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 4.9% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 3 | 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* | 10 | $7.8M | $167K | 2 | — | 12 | 135 |
| FY2025 | 8 | $1.9M | $70K | 4 | $1.8M | 12 | 62 |
| FY2024 | 15 | $7.2M | $150K | 2 | — | 17 | 164 |
| FY2023 | 4 | $779K | $175K | 7 | $3.0M | 11 | 79 |
| FY2022 | 2 | — | — | 5 | $2.1M | 7 | 31 |
| FY2021 | 8 | $2.5M | $222K | 6 | $2.5M | 14 | 93 |
| FY2020 | 4 | $5.3M | $165K | 7 | $2.5M | 11 | 56 |
| FY2019 | 4 | $562K | $150K | 4 | $1.5M | 8 | 42 |
| FY2018 | 6 | $674K | $63K | 2 | — | 8 | 97 |
| FY2017 | 5 | $211K | $10K | 6 | $2.0M | 11 | 42 |
| FY2016 | 8 | $3.6M | $111K | 2 | — | 10 | 95 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 48 approvals.
Against North Dakota and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Ward County | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 61 | 960 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 29.9 | 37.8 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $137K | $195K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $339K | $478K | $657K |
| Average approval | $367K | $568K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 39.3% | 33.9% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 7.0 | 9.7 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 6.4% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less16.4%10
- $50,001 to $150,00023.0%14
- $150,001 to $350,00027.9%17
- $350,001 to $1 million24.6%15
- $1 million to $2 million6.6%4
- Over $2 million1.6%1
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old52.5%32
- New business, 2 years or less13.1%8
- Startup, loan funds will open the business24.6%15
- Change of ownership9.8%6
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Ward County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Dakota Business Lending (22), Town and Country CU (11), U.S. Bank, National Association (6), First Western SBLC, LLC (3), Old National Bank (3). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Ward County?
The median 7(a) approval was $137K and the median 504 approval $339K; the North Dakota 7(a) median was $195K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Ward County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (8); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (6); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6); Traveler Accommodation (4); Building Equipment Contractors (3).
Is SBA lending in Ward County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 40, against 32 in the three before: rising (+25%).
How does Ward County compare with the rest of North Dakota?
29.9 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 37.8 statewide, and 61 of the state's 960 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