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County5th of 72 in Nebraska by approvalsFIPS 31019
SBA loans in Buffalo County, Nebraska
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 Buffalo County, Nebraska, received 52 SBA loan approvals worth $23.6M in FY2021 to FY2025 (39 7(a), 13 504).
That is 29.3 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,777 establishments in 2023), close to the Nebraska figure of 33.3 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 5th of 72 Nebraska counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 8, down 27% on FY2024.
15 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Nebraska Economic Development Corporation (13), Custer Federal State Bank (13) and First National Bank of Omaha (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 Buffalo County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 15 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska Economic Development CorporationLincoln, NE · CDC | 13 | $9.3M | 25.0% | |
| 2 | Custer Federal State BankBroken Bow, NE | 13 | $2.9M | 25.0% | |
| 3 | First National Bank of OmahaOmaha, NE | 6 | $1.6M | 11.5% | |
| 4 | First State Bank NebraskaLincoln, NE | 5 | $2.8M | 9.6% | |
| 5 | Exchange BankKearney, NE | 5 | $2.6M | 9.6% | |
| 6 | FWBankChicago, IL | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 7 | Pinnacle BankLincoln, NE | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 8 | Pathway BankCairo, NE | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 9 | Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.Lake Success, NY | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 10 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 11 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 12 | First Interstate BankBillings, MT | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 13 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 14 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 1 | — | 1.9% | |
| 15 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 1 | — | 1.9% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 13.5% | |
| 2 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 6 | 11.5% | |
| 3 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 4 | 7.7% | |
| 4 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related ServicesNAICS 5413 | 3 | 5.8% | |
| 5 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 3 | 5.8% | |
| 6 | Furniture StoresNAICS 4421 | 2 | 3.8% | |
| 7 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 2 | 3.8% | |
| 8 | Offices of DentistsNAICS 6212 | 2 | 3.8% | |
| 9 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 2 | 3.8% | |
| 10 | Other Miscellaneous ManufacturingNAICS 3399 | 2 | 3.8% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 12 | 23.1% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 9 | 17.3% | |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 13.5% | |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 6 | 11.5% | |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 5 | 9.6% | |
| 6 | Construction | 5 | 9.6% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 5.8% | |
| 8 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 1.9% |
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* | 3 | $542K | $40K | 0 | — | 3 | 26 |
| FY2025 | 7 | $3.4M | $150K | 1 | — | 8 | 121 |
| FY2024 | 11 | $2.4M | $100K | 0 | — | 11 | 130 |
| FY2023 | 8 | $3.9M | $337K | 2 | — | 10 | 134 |
| FY2022 | 5 | $1.3M | $295K | 6 | $4.5M | 11 | 136 |
| FY2021 | 8 | $3.3M | $208K | 4 | $2.4M | 12 | 164 |
| FY2020 | 12 | $5.1M | $183K | 3 | $1.7M | 15 | 71 |
| FY2019 | 8 | $3.2M | $220K | 1 | — | 9 | 21 |
| FY2018 | 8 | $9.4M | $192K | 1 | — | 9 | 366 |
| FY2017 | 6 | $896K | $145K | 2 | — | 8 | 58 |
| FY2016 | 6 | $1.5M | $163K | 2 | — | 8 | 18 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 49 approvals.
Against Nebraska and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Buffalo County | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 52 | 1,882 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 29.3 | 33.3 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $180K | $188K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $625K | $641K | $657K |
| Average approval | $453K | $517K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 25.0% | 13.1% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 13.2 | 11.5 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 2.8% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less13.5%7
- $50,001 to $150,00015.4%8
- $150,001 to $350,00032.7%17
- $350,001 to $1 million26.9%14
- $1 million to $2 million9.6%5
- Over $2 million1.9%1
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old51.9%27
- New business, 2 years or less25.0%13
- Startup, loan funds will open the business11.5%6
- Change of ownership11.5%6
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Buffalo County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Nebraska Economic Development Corporation (13), Custer Federal State Bank (13), First National Bank of Omaha (6), First State Bank Nebraska (5), Exchange Bank (5). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Buffalo County?
The median 7(a) approval was $180K and the median 504 approval $625K; the Nebraska 7(a) median was $188K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Buffalo County?
Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7); Automotive Repair and Maintenance (6); Personal Care Services (4); Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (3); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (3).
Is SBA lending in Buffalo County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 29, against 38 in the three before: falling (-24%).
How does Buffalo County compare with the rest of Nebraska?
29.3 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 33.3 statewide, and 52 of the state's 1,882 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