Lending data
Who actually lends to arts and recreation businesses in Arkansas?
35 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in Arkansas recently, at a median of $271,800. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
35 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in Arkansas in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $271,800 over 10 years. The most active lender was Arvest Bank, with 5 loans.
What lending to arts and recreation businesses in Arkansas 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, Arkansas | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 35 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $271,800 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $695,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 65.7% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 11.6% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to arts and recreation businesses in Arkansas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvest Bank | 5 | $383,500 | 80% | 8.50% |
| Bank OZK | 4 | $529,850 | 75% | 8.75% |
| ACC Capital | 3 | $60,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 3 | $430,500 | 100% | 11.00% |
| FNBC Bank | 3 | $260,000 | 67% | 10.25% |
| U.S. Bank | 2 | $22,500 | 0% | 9.74% |
| The First National Bank of Fort Smith | 2 | $128,000 | 0% | 10.62% |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 2 | $691,600 | 100% | 8.88% |
| Encore Bank | 2 | $894,200 | 50% | 9.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $271,800 is 81% 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. 66% 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 34% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.25% is 1.00 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 11.6% 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, 65.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvest Bank | 4 | $383,500 | 80% | 8.50% |
| ACC Capital | 3 | $60,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 3 | $430,500 | 100% | 11.00% |
| Bank OZK | 3 | $529,850 | 75% | 8.75% |
| FNBC Bank | 2 | $260,000 | 67% | 10.25% |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 2 | $691,600 | 100% | 8.88% |
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 Arkansas: restaurants and hotels, construction, agriculture, retail, personal services, healthcare
- Arts and Recreation in comparable states: Delaware, Mississippi, West Virginia, New Mexico, Montana, Maine