Arizona businesses took out 3,612 SBA 7(a) loans worth $2.11B in fiscal years 2024 to 2026, counting only loans that were not cancelled. That ranks 16th of 52 by number of loans and 14th by dollars. The median loan was $258K at a median starting rate of 10.25%. In FY2026 alone, lenders approved 1,223 Arizona loans for $815M before cancellations.
What stands out in Arizona
Lending clusters in one county
Maricopa County alone accounted for 71.3% of Arizona's 7(a) loans (2,577 loans), and Phoenix was the most frequent borrower city with 761. The next county, Pima, had 11.4%.
A spread-out lender market
No single lender dominates Arizona: the most active, Zions Bancorporation, National Association, made 8.0% of the state's 7(a) loans, and the top three together made 20.2%. A fragmented market usually means more lenders competing for the same borrower, which is worth using when you compare offers.
Bigger loans than average
The median 7(a) loan in Arizona was $258K, above the national median of $175K. 40.8% of Arizona loans were $150,000 or less (49.0% nationally) and 16.3% were $1 million or more (13.6% nationally). Business purchases (11.3% of Arizona loans) and franchises (11.9%) are two of the usual drivers of bigger tickets.
Where in Arizona the loans go
| County | Loans |
|---|---|
| Maricopa | 2,577 |
| Pima | 411 |
| Yavapai | 140 |
| Pinal | 109 |
| Mohave | 100 |
| Coconino | 69 |
| Yuma | 57 |
| Cochise | 46 |
| City | Loans |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | 761 |
| Tucson | 352 |
| Scottsdale | 327 |
| Mesa | 306 |
| Gilbert | 205 |
| Chandler | 176 |
| Tempe | 157 |
| Glendale | 138 |
Counts only, and only places with at least 10 loans. No individual businesses are listed.
Top SBA 7(a) lenders in Arizona
| Lender | Loans | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Zions Bancorporation, National Association | 288 | 8.0% |
| 2. U.S. Bank, National Association | 228 | 6.3% |
| 3. Newtek Bank, National Association | 212 | 5.9% |
| 4. The Huntington National Bank | 201 | 5.6% |
| 5. Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 197 | 5.5% |
| 6. JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 176 | 4.9% |
| 7. Live Oak Banking Company | 148 | 4.1% |
| 8. Readycap Lending, LLC | 143 | 4.0% |
| 9. Northeast Bank | 141 | 3.9% |
| 10. BayFirst National Bank | 108 | 3.0% |
Arizona SBA 7(a) loans by fiscal year
SBA fiscal years run October to September, so FY2026 covers October 2025 through September 2026. "Approved" counts every loan SBA guaranteed, the basis of SBA's own published totals; "not cancelled" drops loans that were later cancelled before or after funding. FY2026 loans are recent, so some of them may still be cancelled.
| FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 1,335 | 1,649 | 1,223 |
| Dollars approved | $705M | $847M | $815M |
| Loans not cancelled | 1,185 | 1,362 | 1,065 |
| Median loan | $250K | $250K | $310K |
| Median rate | 11.25% | 10.25% | 9.50% |
| Loans of $150K or less | 43.4% | 42.5% | 35.9% |
| SBA Express share | 27.3% | 26.4% | 28.5% |
FY2026 approvals in Arizona changed by −25.8% from FY2025; nationally the change was −28.1%. See why SBA lending fell in FY2026.
What a typical Arizona SBA loan looks like
| FY2024-FY2026, not cancelled | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $258K | $175K |
| Average loan | $584K | $508K |
| Median starting rate | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Variable-rate loans | 87.1% | 86.4% |
| Median term | 120 months | 120 months |
| Loans of $150K or less | 40.8% | 49.0% |
| Loans of $500K or less | 70.5% | 76.9% |
| Loans of $1M or more | 16.3% | 13.6% |
| Startups (loan opens the business) | 15.8% | 16.1% |
| Startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 32.7% | 32.0% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 11.3% | 10.9% |
| Franchise businesses | 11.9% | 11.0% |
| SBA Express loans | 27.3% | 35.8% |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 39,877 | 1,733,816 |
Industries that borrow most in Arizona
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 516 | 14.3% | $236K | 10.25% |
| Health care | 457 | 12.7% | $350K | 9.75% |
| Restaurants and hotels | 430 | 11.9% | $404K | 9.75% |
| Other services (repair, personal care) | 407 | 11.3% | $250K | 10.25% |
| Professional services | 395 | 10.9% | $200K | 10.50% |
| Retail | 332 | 9.2% | $303K | 10.25% |
| Administrative and support services | 238 | 6.6% | $201K | 10.41% |
| Manufacturing | 191 | 5.3% | $350K | 10.25% |
SBA 504 loans in Arizona
The SBA 504 program finances owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment. A certified development company (CDC) lends up to 40% of the project with an SBA-backed debenture, a bank typically lends about 50%, and the business puts in the rest. The amounts below are the CDC portion.
| Arizona | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 504 loans, FY2024-FY2026 (not cancelled) | 580 | 18,076 |
| 504 dollars | $668M | $20.82B |
| Median 504 loan | $770K | $742K |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 7,271 | 190,338 |
| Most active CDCs | 504 loans |
|---|---|
| The Mortgage Capital Development Corporation | 367 |
| Arizona Capital Source | 86 |
| California Statewide Certified Development Corporation | 67 |
| Cdc Small Business Finance Corp. | 42 |
How older loans performed
Of the 1,694 SBA 7(a) loans approved for Arizona businesses in FY2020 and FY2021 (not cancelled), 48 had been charged off by September 30, 2026: 2.8% by count and 0.7% of dollars approved. The national figures are 3.7% and 1.0%. Loans from these years have had five to seven years to season, so they say more about losses than recent loans do.
SBA district office for Arizona
Arizona loans are overseen by the SBA Arizona District Office. District offices do not make loans; they support lenders and borrowers and point businesses to local resource partners. Contact details are on SBA's local assistance page.
Comparing SBA and other funding in Arizona
An SBA loan is often the cheapest long-term money a small business can get, but approval takes weeks and the 2025 and 2026 rule changes narrowed who qualifies. FSE (Funding Solutions Experts) is an independent commercial finance brokerage. We are not an SBA lender and are not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration; one application lets us compare SBA and non-SBA options from our funding partners side by side.
- No fee to your business: we are paid a commission by the funding partner.
- No credit check to apply.
- To be considered, a business generally needs at least 1 year in business and $10,000 or more in monthly revenue.
Read what an SBA loan is and how the programs work or our SBA and term loans guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many SBA loans were made in Arizona?
Lenders approved 1,335 SBA 7(a) loans for Arizona businesses in FY2024, 1,649 in FY2025 and 1,223 in FY2026, before cancellations. Net of cancelled loans, the three years total 3,612 loans worth $2.11B, plus 580 SBA 504 loans worth $668M.
Which banks make the most SBA loans in Arizona?
In FY2024 to FY2026 the most active 7(a) lenders in Arizona were Zions Bancorporation, National Association (288 loans, 8.0%), U.S. Bank, National Association (228 loans, 6.3%), Newtek Bank, National Association (212 loans, 5.9%).
What is the typical SBA loan size and rate in Arizona?
The median 7(a) loan in Arizona was $258K and the average was $584K. The median starting interest rate was 10.25%, 87.1% of loans had a variable rate, and the median term was 120 months.
Source and method
Figures come from the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files (as of September 30, 2026), aggregated by FSE. Loans are assigned to Arizona by project state. Profile figures cover FY2024-FY2026 loans that were not cancelled. We publish aggregates only: no borrower names or addresses, and no figure based on fewer than 10 loans. Full details are in the methodology, and every state's figures can be downloaded as CSV.
Compare nearby states by volume: North Carolina, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, or see all states.