Lenders › First Financial Bank
7(a) lenderEl Dorado, ArkansasFDIC-insured bank62nd of 2,184 by approvals
First Financial 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.
In FY2021 to FY2025 SBA approved 589 7(a) loans, worth $711M, through First Financial Bank of El Dorado, Arkansas, an FDIC-insured bank in the SBA 7(a) program. By number of approvals that is 62nd among 2,184 active 7(a) lenders.
In FY2025, the latest complete fiscal year, it had 137 approvals totalling $180M, up 46% on FY2024 (94). FY2026 to 30 Jun 2026 adds 83 more.
The median approval was $925K, against $190K for the 7(a) program as a whole; 12.6% of its approvals were for $150,000 or less (program: 47.8%).
Its loans went to businesses in 45 states and territories and 310 counties, led by Arkansas (15.1%), Texas (13.1%) and North Carolina (9.0%). The largest industry group was agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting at 56.0% of approvals, and 5.6% of approvals were to franchise businesses.
Of 2,686 disbursed loans approved in FY2010 to FY2021, SBA records 115 as charged off (4.3%), 2,252 as paid in full and 319 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* | 83 | $102M | $986K | $1.2M | 618 |
| FY2025 | 137 | $180M | $999K | $1.3M | 1,364 |
| FY2024 | 94 | $124M | $1.0M | $1.3M | 892 |
| FY2023 | 138 | $170M | $901K | $1.2M | 746 |
| FY2022 | 114 | $130M | $829K | $1.1M | 620 |
| FY2021 | 106 | $109M | $808K | $1.0M | 584 |
| FY2020 | 105 | $96.0M | $740K | $915K | 652 |
| FY2019 | 121 | $109M | $530K | $901K | 783 |
| FY2018 | 206 | $182M | $464K | $884K | 1,017 |
| FY2017 | 231 | $163M | $350K | $703K | 706 |
| FY2016 | 300 | $190M | $240K | $632K | 1,057 |
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 963 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 | Arkansas | 7(a) program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals in these years | 2,904 | 3,649 | 639,905 |
| Cancelled or never disbursed | 218 | 394 | 79,313 |
| Disbursed loans | 2,686 | 3,255 | 560,592 |
| Paid in full | 2,252 | 2,511 | 435,813 |
| Charged off | 115 | 224 | 36,891 |
| Still outstanding (status exempt from disclosure) | 319 | 520 | 87,888 |
| Charged off, share of disbursed loans | 4.3% | 6.9% | 6.6% |
| Dollars charged off, share of disbursed dollars | 1.5% | 3.4% | 2.5% |
| Dollars charged off | $24.9M | $56.9M | $5.70bn |
By approval year
| Approved in | Disbursed | Paid in full | Charged off | Charged off, share | 7(a) program, same year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 100 | 35 | 2 | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| FY2020 | 94 | 48 | 1 | 1.1% | 4.0% |
| FY2019 | 110 | 71 | 3 | 2.7% | 6.7% |
| FY2018 | 189 | 139 | 4 | 2.1% | 7.9% |
| FY2017 | 211 | 167 | 5 | 2.4% | 7.7% |
| FY2016 | 279 | 239 | 10 | 3.6% | 7.2% |
| FY2015 | 272 | 239 | 10 | 3.7% | 6.9% |
| FY2014 | 217 | 194 | 15 | 6.9% | 6.4% |
| FY2013 | 255 | 239 | 7 | 2.7% | 6.0% |
| FY2012 | 228 | 215 | 10 | 4.4% | 6.3% |
| FY2011 | 401 | 371 | 18 | 4.5% | 6.9% |
| FY2010 | 330 | 295 | 30 | 9.1% | 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 | $925K | $190K |
| Average approval | $1.2M | $518K |
| Approvals of $150,000 or less | 12.6% | 47.8% |
| Approvals to startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 29.9% | 34.3% |
| Approvals to franchise businesses | 5.6% | 11.5% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 7.1 | 10.5 |
| Charged off, loans approved FY2010–FY2021 | 4.3% | 6.6% |
States served
| # | State of the business (45 in all) | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | 89 | $106M | 15.1% | |
| 2 | Texas | 77 | $112M | 13.1% | |
| 3 | North Carolina | 53 | $51.2M | 9.0% | |
| 4 | Louisiana | 46 | $78.6M | 7.8% | |
| 5 | Mississippi | 44 | $30.8M | 7.5% | |
| 6 | Alabama | 29 | $14.7M | 4.9% | |
| 7 | Tennessee | 26 | $43.7M | 4.4% | |
| 8 | Georgia | 21 | $18.1M | 3.6% | |
| 9 | Missouri | 16 | $16.6M | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Florida | 15 | $23.6M | 2.5% | |
| 11 | New York | 14 | $17.6M | 2.4% | |
| 12 | California | 13 | $23.3M | 2.2% |
In Arkansas the lender accounts for 5.7% of all 7(a) approvals in FY2021–FY2025.
Counties served
| # | County of the business (310 in all) | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Parish, LA | 15 | $28.7M | 2.5% | |
| 2 | Shelby County, TX | 13 | $19.3M | 2.2% | |
| 3 | Pulaski County, AR | 13 | $8.7M | 2.2% | |
| 4 | DeKalb County, AL | 11 | $4.0M | 1.9% | |
| 5 | Polk County, AR | 10 | $4.0M | 1.7% | |
| 6 | Palm Beach County, FL | 9 | $15.2M | 1.5% | |
| 7 | Richmond County, NC | 9 | $10.4M | 1.5% | |
| 8 | Cleveland County, AR | 8 | $7.5M | 1.4% | |
| 9 | Leon County, TX | 6 | $16.3M | 1.0% | |
| 10 | Columbia County, AR | 6 | $11.9M | 1.0% | |
| 11 | Los Angeles County, CA | 6 | $11.4M | 1.0% | |
| 12 | Nacogdoches County, TX | 6 | $8.4M | 1.0% |
Industry mix
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 330 | 56.0% | |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 117 | 19.9% | |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 84 | 14.3% | |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 3.9% | |
| 5 | Transportation and Warehousing | 17 | 2.9% | |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 1.4% | |
| 7 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 6 | 1.0% | |
| 8 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 0.3% |
| # | Industry group | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poultry and Egg ProductionNAICS 1123 | 326 | 55.3% | |
| 2 | Health and Personal Care RetailersNAICS 4561 | 87 | 14.8% | |
| 3 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 83 | 14.1% | |
| 4 | Health and Personal Care StoresNAICS 4461 | 24 | 4.1% | |
| 5 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 5419 | 23 | 3.9% | |
| 6 | General Freight TruckingNAICS 4841 | 14 | 2.4% | |
| 7 | Home Health Care ServicesNAICS 6216 | 4 | 0.7% | |
| 8 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument RetailersNAICS 4591 | 4 | 0.7% | |
| 9 | Consumer Goods RentalNAICS 5322 | 4 | 0.7% | |
| 10 | Couriers and Express Delivery ServicesNAICS 4921 | 3 | 0.5% |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less2.4%14
- $50,001 to $150,00010.2%60
- $150,001 to $350,0008.0%47
- $350,001 to $1 million34.8%205
- $1 million to $2 million26.1%154
- Over $2 million18.5%109
Loan terms
- 5 years or less3.7%22
- Over 5 to 10 years35.7%210
- Over 10 to 20 years45.7%269
- Over 20 years14.9%88
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old29.9%176
- New business, 2 years or less6.3%37
- Startup, loan funds will open the business23.6%139
- Change of ownership40.2%237
SBA processing method
| # | Method | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preferred Lenders Program | 545 | 92.5% | |
| 2 | SBA Express Program | 33 | 5.6% | |
| 3 | 7a General | 11 | 1.9% |
Franchise share
33 of 589 approvals in FY2021–FY2025 (5.6%) carried an SBA franchise code; across the 7(a) program the share is 11.5%.
| # | Franchise brand | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vital Care | 18 | 3.1% | |
| 2 | Health Mart Pharmacy | 4 | 0.7% | |
| 3 | Senior Helpers | 3 | 0.5% | |
| 4 | Good Neighbor Pharmacy | 2 | 0.3% | |
| 5 | The Medicine Shoppe | 2 | 0.3% | |
| 6 | K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel | 1 | 0.2% | |
| 7 | D-Bat | 1 | 0.2% | |
| 8 | RE/MAX Regional Services f | 1 | 0.2% |
Questions and answers
How many SBA loans does First Financial Bank make?
SBA approved 137 7(a) loans through First Financial Bank in FY2025, worth $180M, and 589 over FY2021 to FY2025. That ranks 62nd of 2,184 active 7(a) lenders by number of approvals.
How large are First Financial Bank's typical SBA loans?
The median 7(a) approval in FY2021 to FY2025 was $925K and the average $1.2M. The program-wide median was $190K.
What is First Financial Bank's charge-off rate?
Of 2,686 disbursed loans approved in FY2010 to FY2021, SBA records 115 as charged off (4.3%), 2,252 as paid in full and 319 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 First Financial Bank lend to most?
By number of approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: poultry and egg production (326); health and personal care retailers (87); other personal services (83); health and personal care stores (24).
Where does First Financial Bank make SBA loans?
In 45 states and territories. Arkansas 89, Texas 77, North Carolina 53, Louisiana 46, Mississippi 44. In Arkansas it accounts for 5.7% of all 7(a) approvals.
Is First Financial Bank's SBA lending rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 369, against 325 in the three before: rising (+14%).
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