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County23rd of 39 in Washington by approvalsFIPS 53075
SBA loans in Whitman County, Washington
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 Whitman County, Washington, received 48 SBA loan approvals worth $12.4M in FY2021 to FY2025 (44 7(a), 4 504).
That is 55.0 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (873 establishments in 2023), above the Washington figure of 44.0 and above the national 41.0.
It ranks 23rd of 39 Washington counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 13, up 8% on FY2024.
16 lenders had approvals here; the most active were Columbia Bank (22), Washington Trust Bank (5) and Banner Bank (5). The most common industry was oilseed and grain farming.
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 Whitman County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 16 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia BankLake Oswego, OR | 22 | $713K | 45.8% | |
| 2 | Washington Trust BankSpokane, WA | 5 | $1.4M | 10.4% | |
| 3 | Banner BankWalla Walla, WA | 5 | $401K | 10.4% | |
| 4 | Capital Matrix, Inc.Boise, ID · CDC | 2 | — | 4.2% | |
| 5 | Readycap Lending, LLCBerkeley Heights, NJ | 2 | — | 4.2% | |
| 6 | First Interstate BankBillings, MT | 2 | — | 4.2% | |
| 7 | West Coast Community BankSanta Cruz, CA | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 8 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 9 | East West BankPasadena, CA | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 10 | Panhandle Area Council, Inc.Hayden, ID · CDC | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 11 | Northwest Business Development AssociationSpokane Valley, WA · CDC | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 12 | Idaho Central CUChubbuck, ID | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 13 | Stearns Bank National AssociationSaint Cloud, MN | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 14 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 15 | Zions Bank, A Division ofSalt Lake City, UT | 1 | — | 2.1% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oilseed and Grain FarmingNAICS 1111 | 7 | 14.6% | |
| 2 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 5 | 10.4% | |
| 3 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 4 | 8.3% | |
| 4 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 3 | 6.3% | |
| 5 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 3 | 6.3% | |
| 6 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 7 | Building Material and Supplies DealersNAICS 4441 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 8 | Cattle Ranching and FarmingNAICS 1121 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 9 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 10 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 2 | 4.2% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 20.8% | |
| 2 | Construction | 10 | 20.8% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 7 | 14.6% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5 | 10.4% | |
| 5 | Retail Trade | 5 | 10.4% | |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 6.3% | |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 8 | Transportation and Warehousing | 2 | 4.2% |
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* | 4 | $165K | $45K | 1 | — | 5 | 22 |
| FY2025 | 11 | $857K | $50K | 2 | — | 13 | 50 |
| FY2024 | 12 | $2.0M | $50K | 0 | — | 12 | 102 |
| FY2023 | 4 | $140K | $25K | 0 | — | 4 | 15 |
| FY2022 | 9 | $5.6M | $80K | 2 | — | 11 | 81 |
| FY2021 | 8 | $1.6M | $38K | 0 | — | 8 | 33 |
| FY2020 | 6 | $731K | $90K | 2 | — | 8 | 57 |
| FY2019 | 9 | $2.9M | $75K | 0 | — | 9 | 63 |
| FY2018 | 7 | $337K | $25K | 1 | — | 8 | 8 |
| FY2017 | 4 | $1.1M | $148K | 0 | — | 4 | 40 |
| FY2016 | 7 | $579K | $70K | 0 | — | 7 | 24 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 36 approvals.
Against Washington and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Whitman County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 48 | 8,905 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 55.0 | 44.0 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $50K | $200K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $360K | $699K | $657K |
| Average approval | $259K | $627K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 8.3% | 7.8% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 5.9 | 9.2 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.5% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less60.4%29
- $50,001 to $150,00012.5%6
- $150,001 to $350,0008.3%4
- $350,001 to $1 million14.6%7
- $1 million to $2 million2.1%1
- Over $2 million2.1%1
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old75.0%36
- New business, 2 years or less12.5%6
- Startup, loan funds will open the business6.3%3
- Change of ownership6.3%3
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Whitman County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: Columbia Bank (22), Washington Trust Bank (5), Banner Bank (5), Capital Matrix, Inc. (2), Readycap Lending, LLC (2). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Whitman County?
The median 7(a) approval was $50K and the median 504 approval $360K; the Washington 7(a) median was $200K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Whitman County?
Oilseed and Grain Farming (7); Building Equipment Contractors (5); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (4); Traveler Accommodation (3); Offices of Other Health Practitioners (3).
Is SBA lending in Whitman County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 29, against 27 in the three before: broadly level (+7%).
How does Whitman County compare with the rest of Washington?
55.0 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 44.0 statewide, and 48 of the state's 8,905 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