Lenders approved 875 SBA 7(a) loans worth $593M for Arkansas businesses in fiscal years 2024 through 2026, net of cancellations. That ranks 38th of 52 by number of loans and 34th by dollars. The median loan was $250K at a median starting rate of 9.50%. In FY2026 alone, lenders approved 327 Arkansas loans for $260M before cancellations.
What stands out in Arkansas
More startup lending
Loans to open a new business made up 27.3% of Arkansas's 7(a) loans, against 16.1% nationally; counting businesses two years old or younger, the share is 41.9%.
Lower rates than average
The median starting rate on Arkansas 7(a) loans was 9.50%, against 10.25% nationally, and 19.9% of loans carried a fixed rate (13.6% nationally). SBA caps the spread a lender can charge over the base rate, and smaller loans are allowed higher spreads, so a state's loan-size mix moves its median rate.
A milder FY2026 drop than the country
Arkansas approvals went from 401 in FY2025 to 327 in FY2026 (−18.5%), against −28.1% nationally. Dollar volume went from $247M to $260M (+4.9%).
Few SBA Express loans
24.2% of Arkansas's 7(a) loans were made through SBA Express, against 35.8% nationally. Express loans are capped at $500,000 and the lender makes the credit decision itself, so they move faster but are smaller. More Arkansas loans go through standard 7(a) processing, which takes longer but allows amounts up to $5 million.
Bigger loans than average
The median 7(a) loan in Arkansas was $250K, above the national median of $175K. 40.0% of Arkansas loans were $150,000 or less (49.0% nationally) and 20.0% were $1 million or more (13.6% nationally). Business purchases (13.7% of Arkansas loans) and franchises (11.8%) are two of the usual drivers of bigger tickets.
Light use of SBA 504
Arkansas had 55 SBA 504 loans, 0.06 for every 7(a) loan, against 0.10 nationally. The 504 program finances owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment through a certified development company; in Arkansas the most active was Rural Missouri, Inc. (46 loans).
What a typical Arkansas SBA loan looks like
| FY2024-FY2026, not cancelled | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $250K | $175K |
| Average loan | $677K | $508K |
| Median starting rate | 9.50% | 10.25% |
| Variable-rate loans | 80.1% | 86.4% |
| Median term | 120 months | 120 months |
| Loans of $150K or less | 40.0% | 49.0% |
| Loans of $500K or less | 67.3% | 76.9% |
| Loans of $1M or more | 20.0% | 13.6% |
| Startups (loan opens the business) | 27.3% | 16.1% |
| Startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 41.9% | 32.0% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 13.7% | 10.9% |
| Franchise businesses | 11.8% | 11.0% |
| SBA Express loans | 24.2% | 35.8% |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 8,568 | 1,733,816 |
Arkansas 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 | 286 | 401 | 327 |
| Dollars approved | $144M | $247M | $260M |
| Loans not cancelled | 256 | 333 | 286 |
| Median loan | $210K | $255K | $282K |
| Median rate | 10.50% | 9.50% | 8.75% |
| Loans of $150K or less | 44.5% | 40.8% | 35.0% |
| SBA Express share | 27.3% | 20.7% | 25.5% |
FY2026 approvals in Arkansas changed by −18.5% from FY2025; nationally the change was −28.1%. See why SBA lending fell in FY2026.
Top SBA 7(a) lenders in Arkansas
| Lender | Loans | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Southern Bancorp Bank | 82 | 9.4% |
| 2. First Service Bank | 66 | 7.5% |
| 3. Arvest Bank | 62 | 7.1% |
| 4. U.S. Bank, National Association | 60 | 6.9% |
| 5. First Financial Bank | 42 | 4.8% |
| 6. Newtek Bank, National Association | 38 | 4.3% |
| 7. Live Oak Banking Company | 37 | 4.2% |
| 8. The Huntington National Bank | 35 | 4.0% |
| 9. Readycap Lending, LLC | 34 | 3.9% |
| 10. FNBC Bank | 32 | 3.7% |
Industries that borrow most in Arkansas
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 119 | 13.6% | $150K | 9.75% |
| Agriculture | 111 | 12.7% | $768K | 8.50% |
| Restaurants and hotels | 106 | 12.1% | $299K | 9.20% |
| Retail | 103 | 11.8% | $327K | 9.50% |
| Other services (repair, personal care) | 87 | 9.9% | $150K | 9.75% |
| Health care | 84 | 9.6% | $228K | 9.00% |
| Professional services | 65 | 7.4% | $130K | 10.25% |
| Manufacturing | 37 | 4.2% | $288K | 9.25% |
Where in Arkansas the loans go
| County | Loans |
|---|---|
| Pulaski | 138 |
| Benton | 132 |
| Washington | 75 |
| Faulkner | 44 |
| Sebastian | 39 |
| Saline | 37 |
| Garland | 34 |
| White | 24 |
| City | Loans |
|---|---|
| Little Rock | 78 |
| Rogers | 47 |
| Fayetteville | 36 |
| Bentonville | 35 |
| Fort Smith | 34 |
| North Little Rock | 34 |
| Conway | 30 |
| Springdale | 26 |
Counts only, and only places with at least 10 loans. No individual businesses are listed.
SBA 504 loans in Arkansas
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.
| Arkansas | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 504 loans, FY2024-FY2026 (not cancelled) | 55 | 18,076 |
| 504 dollars | $53.6M | $20.82B |
| Median 504 loan | $585K | $742K |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 517 | 190,338 |
| Most active CDCs | 504 loans |
|---|---|
| Rural Missouri, Inc. | 46 |
How older loans performed
Of the 535 SBA 7(a) loans approved for Arkansas businesses in FY2020 and FY2021 (not cancelled), 15 had been charged off by September 30, 2026: 2.8% by count and 1.0% 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 Arkansas
Arkansas loans are overseen by the SBA Arkansas 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 Arkansas
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 Arkansas?
Lenders approved 286 SBA 7(a) loans for Arkansas businesses in FY2024, 401 in FY2025 and 327 in FY2026, before cancellations. Net of cancelled loans, the three years total 875 loans worth $593M, plus 55 SBA 504 loans worth $53.6M.
Which banks make the most SBA loans in Arkansas?
In FY2024 to FY2026 the most active 7(a) lenders in Arkansas were Southern Bancorp Bank (82 loans, 9.4%), First Service Bank (66 loans, 7.5%), Arvest Bank (62 loans, 7.1%).
What is the typical SBA loan size and rate in Arkansas?
The median 7(a) loan in Arkansas was $250K and the average was $677K. The median starting interest rate was 9.50%, 80.1% 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 Arkansas 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: Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, Mississippi, or see all states.