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County6th of 30 in New Mexico by approvalsFIPS 35025
SBA loans in Lea County, New Mexico
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 Lea County, New Mexico, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $49.7M: 74 under 7(a) and 1 under 504.
That is 43.4 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,730 establishments in 2023), above the New Mexico figure of 32.4 and close to the national 41.0.
It ranks 6th of 30 New Mexico counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 17, up 31% on FY2024.
18 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Western Commerce Bank (47), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (6) and Newtek Bank, National Association (3). The most common industry was support activities for mining.
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 Lea County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 18 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Commerce BankCarlsbad, NM | 47 | $26.6M | 62.7% | |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Bank National AssociationSioux Falls, SD | 6 | $115K | 8.0% | |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 3 | $1.2M | 4.0% | |
| 4 | BayFirst National BankSaint Petersburg, FL | 3 | $453K | 4.0% | |
| 5 | First American BankArtesia, NM | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 6 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 2 | — | 2.7% | |
| 7 | Millennium BankDes Plaines, IL | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 8 | Peoples BankMendenhall, MS | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 9 | Bank of HopeLos Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 10 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 11 | Colony BankFitzgerald, GA | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 12 | Capital Certified Development CorporationAustin, TX · CDC | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 13 | Lea County State BankHobbs, NM | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 14 | Pioneer BankRoswell, NM | 1 | — | 1.3% | |
| 15 | Lendistry SBLC, LLCLos Angeles, CA | 1 | — | 1.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Support Activities for MiningNAICS 2131 | 28 | 37.3% | |
| 2 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 5 | 6.7% | |
| 3 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 5 | 6.7% | |
| 4 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 4 | 5.3% | |
| 5 | Utility System ConstructionNAICS 2371 | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 6 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 7 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 2 | 2.7% | |
| 8 | Building Material and Supplies DealersNAICS 4441 | 2 | 2.7% | |
| 9 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Special Food ServicesNAICS 7223 | 2 | 2.7% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 28 | 37.3% | |
| 2 | Accommodation and Food Services | 12 | 16.0% | |
| 3 | Construction | 8 | 10.7% | |
| 4 | Transportation and Warehousing | 7 | 9.3% | |
| 5 | Retail Trade | 6 | 8.0% | |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 4.0% | |
| 8 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2.7% |
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* | 8 | $7.3M | $350K | 1 | — | 9 | 116 |
| FY2025 | 17 | $14.1M | $260K | 0 | — | 17 | 300 |
| FY2024 | 13 | $7.9M | $150K | 0 | — | 13 | 197 |
| FY2023 | 18 | $7.4M | $298K | 1 | — | 19 | 426 |
| FY2022 | 16 | $9.1M | $124K | 0 | — | 16 | 149 |
| FY2021 | 10 | $10.5M | $200K | 0 | — | 10 | 109 |
| FY2020 | 15 | $4.8M | $20K | 1 | — | 16 | 58 |
| FY2019 | 17 | $14.7M | $100K | 0 | — | 17 | 245 |
| FY2018 | 20 | $3.4M | $64K | 0 | — | 20 | 74 |
| FY2017 | 30 | $6.9M | $98K | 0 | — | 30 | 310 |
| FY2016 | 24 | $4.0M | $95K | 0 | — | 24 | 196 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 107 approvals.
Against New Mexico and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Lea County | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 75 | 1,453 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 43.4 | 32.4 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $158K | $250K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $485K | $657K |
| Average approval | $662K | $638K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 1.3% | 12.0% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 15.7 | 11.9 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 5.2% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less14.7%11
- $50,001 to $150,00033.3%25
- $150,001 to $350,00022.7%17
- $350,001 to $1 million14.7%11
- $1 million to $2 million4.0%3
- Over $2 million10.7%8
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old61.3%46
- New business, 2 years or less20.0%15
- Startup, loan funds will open the business13.3%10
- Change of ownership5.3%4
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Lea County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Western Commerce Bank (47), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (6), Newtek Bank, National Association (3), BayFirst National Bank (3), First American Bank (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Lea County?
The median 7(a) approval was $158K; the New Mexico 7(a) median was $250K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Lea County?
Support Activities for Mining (28); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (5); General Freight Trucking (5); Traveler Accommodation (4); Utility System Construction (3).
Is SBA lending in Lea County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 49, against 42 in the three before: rising (+17%).
How does Lea County compare with the rest of New Mexico?
43.4 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 32.4 statewide, and 75 of the state's 1,453 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