Lenders › Bell Bank
7(a) lenderFargo, North DakotaFDIC-insured bank185th of 2,184 by approvals
Bell Bank
SBA 7(a) loan approvals by fiscal year, where they went, how large they were, and how loans from earlier years turned out.
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.
Bell Bank (Fargo, North Dakota) is an FDIC-insured bank in the SBA 7(a) program, 185th of 2,184 by approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: 210 loans worth $154M.
In FY2025, the latest complete fiscal year, it had 54 approvals totalling $27.6M, about level with FY2024 (51). FY2026 to 30 Jun 2026 adds 44 more.
The median approval was $398K, against $190K for the 7(a) program as a whole; 25.2% of its approvals were for $150,000 or less (program: 47.8%).
Its loans went to businesses in 9 states and territories and 34 counties, led by Arizona (42.9%), Minnesota (42.9%) and North Dakota (7.6%). The largest industry group was manufacturing at 18.1% of approvals, and 7.6% of approvals were to franchise businesses.
Of 148 disbursed loans approved in FY2010 to FY2021, SBA records 5 as charged off (3.4%), 126 as paid in full and 17 still outstanding; the 7(a) program figure for the same approval years is 6.6%, so the rate here is below it.
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. Loans appear under the lender they are assigned to today, so a lender's figures include loans it took over. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Approvals | Dollars approved | Median approval | Average approval | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 44 | $35.3M | $350K | $803K | 1,186 |
| FY2025 | 54 | $27.6M | $263K | $511K | 859 |
| FY2024 | 51 | $31.5M | $300K | $617K | 1,040 |
| FY2023 | 52 | $44.8M | $500K | $861K | 913 |
| FY2022 | 37 | $45.1M | $647K | $1.2M | 699 |
| FY2021 | 16 | $4.6M | $153K | $286K | 249 |
| FY2020 | 4 | $2.3M | $320K | $579K | 75 |
| FY2019 | 7 | $1.9M | $150K | $273K | 84 |
| FY2018 | 9 | $2.0M | $87K | $222K | 238 |
| FY2017 | 12 | $1.3M | $88K | $111K | 57 |
| FY2016 | 14 | $1.7M | $105K | $121K | 88 |
Approvals are counted in the year SBA approved them and include approvals later cancelled. In the five fiscal years before the current window (FY2016–FY2020) the lender had 46 approvals. First approval on file: FY2010.
How earlier loans turned out
Only loans approved at least five fiscal years ago (FY2010–FY2021) are counted, because newer loans have had little time to be paid in full or charged off. "Charged off" is SBA's status for a loan on which it has written off the remaining balance.
| Loans approved FY2010–FY2021 | This lender | Arizona | 7(a) program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals in these years | 157 | 12,990 | 639,905 |
| Cancelled or never disbursed | 9 | 1,486 | 79,313 |
| Disbursed loans | 148 | 11,504 | 560,592 |
| Paid in full | 126 | 8,917 | 435,813 |
| Charged off | 5 | 692 | 36,891 |
| Still outstanding (status exempt from disclosure) | 17 | 1,895 | 87,888 |
| Charged off, share of disbursed loans | 3.4% | 6.0% | 6.6% |
| Dollars charged off, share of disbursed dollars | 3.4% | 1.9% | 2.5% |
| Dollars charged off | $1.1M | $110M | $5.70bn |
By approval year
| Approved in | Disbursed | Paid in full | Charged off | Charged off, share | 7(a) program, same year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 16 | 4 | 0 | — | 2.8% |
| FY2020 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 4.0% |
| FY2019 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 6.7% |
| FY2018 | 9 | 7 | 0 | — | 7.9% |
| FY2017 | 12 | 12 | 0 | — | 7.7% |
| FY2016 | 14 | 13 | 1 | — | 7.2% |
| FY2015 | 10 | 9 | 1 | — | 6.9% |
| FY2014 | 10 | 10 | 0 | — | 6.4% |
| FY2013 | 18 | 18 | 0 | — | 6.0% |
| FY2012 | 10 | 9 | 1 | — | 6.3% |
| FY2011 | 19 | 19 | 0 | — | 6.9% |
| FY2010 | 22 | 20 | 2 | — | 9.2% |
A share is shown only where at least 30 loans from that year were disbursed.
Against the 7(a) program
| FY2021–FY2025 | This lender | 7(a) program |
|---|---|---|
| Median approval | $398K | $190K |
| Average approval | $731K | $518K |
| Approvals of $150,000 or less | 25.2% | 47.8% |
| Approvals to startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 36.7% | 34.3% |
| Approvals to franchise businesses | 7.6% | 11.5% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 17.9 | 10.5 |
| Charged off, loans approved FY2010–FY2021 | 3.4% | 6.6% |
States served
| # | State of the business (9 in all) | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 90 | $70.8M | 42.9% | |
| 2 | Minnesota | 90 | $66.9M | 42.9% | |
| 3 | North Dakota | 16 | $6.2M | 7.6% | |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 7 | $4.5M | 3.3% | |
| 5 | Iowa | 2 | — | 1.0% | |
| 6 | Florida | 2 | — | 1.0% | |
| 7 | California | 1 | — | 0.5% | |
| 8 | Colorado | 1 | — | 0.5% | |
| 9 | Texas | 1 | — | 0.5% |
In Arizona the lender accounts for 1.5% of all 7(a) approvals in FY2021–FY2025.
Counties served
| # | County of the business (34 in all) | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maricopa County, AZ | 82 | $60.9M | 39.0% | |
| 2 | Hennepin County, MN | 34 | $27.3M | 16.2% | |
| 3 | Cass County, ND | 15 | $5.7M | 7.1% | |
| 4 | Washington County, MN | 12 | $7.0M | 5.7% | |
| 5 | Dakota County, MN | 6 | $8.3M | 2.9% | |
| 6 | Ramsey County, MN | 6 | $3.0M | 2.9% | |
| 7 | Clay County, MN | 5 | $8.7M | 2.4% | |
| 8 | St. Louis County, MN | 5 | $1.1M | 2.4% | |
| 9 | Scott County, MN | 4 | $2.7M | 1.9% | |
| 10 | Pierce County, WI | 3 | $2.9M | 1.4% | |
| 11 | Otter Tail County, MN | 3 | $738K | 1.4% | |
| 12 | Pine County, MN | 3 | $402K | 1.4% |
Industry mix
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | 38 | 18.1% | |
| 2 | Construction | 30 | 14.3% | |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 11.0% | |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 22 | 10.5% | |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 9.0% | |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 13 | 6.2% | |
| 7 | Accommodation and Food Services | 9 | 4.3% | |
| 8 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 8 | 3.8% |
| # | Industry group | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 12 | 5.7% | |
| 2 | Beverage ManufacturingNAICS 3121 | 11 | 5.2% | |
| 3 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 9 | 4.3% | |
| 4 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 7 | 3.3% | |
| 5 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 7 | 3.3% | |
| 6 | Other Specialty Trade ContractorsNAICS 2389 | 7 | 3.3% | |
| 7 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 6 | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Household and Institutional Furniture and Kitchen Cabinet ManufacturingNAICS 3371 | 5 | 2.4% | |
| 9 | Building Finishing ContractorsNAICS 2383 | 5 | 2.4% | |
| 10 | Legal ServicesNAICS 5411 | 5 | 2.4% |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less6.2%13
- $50,001 to $150,00019.0%40
- $150,001 to $350,00022.4%47
- $350,001 to $1 million32.9%69
- $1 million to $2 million9.0%19
- Over $2 million10.5%22
Loan terms
- 5 years or less1.9%4
- Over 5 to 10 years75.2%158
- Over 10 to 20 years11.4%24
- Over 20 years11.4%24
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old40.0%84
- New business, 2 years or less23.3%49
- Startup, loan funds will open the business13.3%28
- Change of ownership23.3%49
SBA processing method
| # | Method | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preferred Lenders Program | 139 | 66.2% | |
| 2 | SBA Express Program | 67 | 31.9% | |
| 3 | 7a General | 3 | 1.4% | |
| 4 | Working Capital CAPLine | 1 | 0.5% |
Franchise share
16 of 210 approvals in FY2021–FY2025 (7.6%) carried an SBA franchise code; across the 7(a) program the share is 11.5%.
| # | Franchise brand | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Air Adventure Park | 2 | 1.0% | |
| 2 | Face Foundrie | 2 | 1.0% | |
| 3 | Slumberland Furniture | 2 | 1.0% | |
| 4 | Handyman Connection | 2 | 1.0% | |
| 5 | The Goddard School | 1 | 0.5% | |
| 6 | Twisted Sugar | 1 | 0.5% | |
| 7 | The UPS Store | 1 | 0.5% | |
| 8 | Schlotzsky's | 1 | 0.5% |
Questions and answers
How many SBA loans does Bell Bank make?
SBA approved 54 7(a) loans through Bell Bank in FY2025, worth $27.6M, and 210 over FY2021 to FY2025. That ranks 185th of 2,184 active 7(a) lenders by number of approvals.
How large are Bell Bank's typical SBA loans?
The median 7(a) approval in FY2021 to FY2025 was $398K and the average $731K. The program-wide median was $190K.
What is Bell Bank's charge-off rate?
Of 148 disbursed loans approved in FY2010 to FY2021, SBA records 5 as charged off (3.4%), 126 as paid in full and 17 still outstanding; the 7(a) program figure for the same approval years is 6.6%, so the rate here is below it. Loans are listed under the lender that holds them today, so the figure includes loans taken over from other lenders. Status is as recorded by SBA on 30 Jun 2026.
Which industries does Bell Bank lend to most?
By number of approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: personal care services (12); beverage manufacturing (11); building equipment contractors (9); restaurants and other eating places (7).
Where does Bell Bank make SBA loans?
In 9 states and territories. Arizona 90, Minnesota 90, North Dakota 16, Wisconsin 7, Iowa 2. In Arizona it accounts for 1.5% of all 7(a) approvals.
Is Bell Bank's SBA lending rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 157, against 57 in the three before: rising (+175%).
Where does this data come from?
From the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, as of 30 Jun 2026. Borrower names and addresses in those files are discarded when the files are read and appear nowhere on this site.
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. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error