Lending data
Who actually lends to arts and recreation businesses in Alabama?
68 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in Alabama recently, at a median of $326,400. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
68 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in Alabama in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $326,400 over 10 years. The most active lender was The Huntington National Bank, with 9 loans.
What lending to arts and recreation businesses in Alabama actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Arts, entertainment, and recreation, Alabama | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 68 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $326,400 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $150,000 - $729,625 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 72.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 12.3% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to arts and recreation businesses in Alabama. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 9 | $371,000 | 89% | 10.25% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 4 | $835,100 | 75% | 9.25% |
| Sabre Finance | 4 | $244,400 | 75% | 11.00% |
| Newtek Bank | 4 | $137,500 | 0% | 10.75% |
| Peoples Bank of Alabama | 3 | $204,100 | 67% | 8.50% |
| BankFirst Financial Services | 3 | $122,700 | 67% | 10.50% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 3 | $500,000 | 67% | 10.24% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 2 | $667,000 | 100% | 10.38% |
| Valley National Bank | 2 | $330,150 | 50% | 9.62% |
| Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB | 2 | $1,445,000 | 100% | 10.12% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $326,400 is 118% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- New businesses do well here. 72% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 25% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 12.3% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 72.1% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 8 | $371,000 | 89% | 10.25% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 3 | $835,100 | 75% | 9.25% |
| Sabre Finance | 3 | $244,400 | 75% | 11.00% |
| Peoples Bank of Alabama | 2 | $204,100 | 67% | 8.50% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 2 | $667,000 | 100% | 10.38% |
| Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB | 2 | $1,445,000 | 100% | 10.12% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year. See choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator so you ask for a number the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Alabama: restaurants and hotels, retail, construction, personal services, healthcare, professional services
- Arts and Recreation in comparable states: Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Louisiana, Iowa