Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Shelby County?
120 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Shelby County recently, at a median of $263,450. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
120 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Shelby County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $263,450. The most active lender was The Huntington National Bank, with 14 loans.
SBA lending in Shelby County, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans that were actually approved to businesses in this county, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Shelby County | Alabama | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 120 | 1,523 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $263,450 | $250,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $130,075 - $541,550 | $100,000 - $676,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 40.8% | 41.6% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 12.0% | 8.4% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 1,111 | 17,831 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Shelby County. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own loans in this county, not its national averages.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 14 | $325,000 | 64% | 9.75% |
| Sabre Finance | 8 | $138,100 | 38% | 10.00% |
| Peoples Bank of Alabama | 7 | $204,100 | 71% | 8.50% |
| Newtek Bank | 7 | $300,000 | 43% | 11.50% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 6 | $175,000 | 67% | 11.25% |
| Central State Bank | 4 | $241,900 | 25% | 8.88% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 4 | $15,000 | 100% | 11.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 4 | $130,450 | 0% | 12.50% |
| Millennial Bank | 4 | $2,536,500 | 25% | 8.75% |
| SouthState Bank | 4 | $180,000 | 0% | 10.38% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $263,450 is 76% 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.
- Startup share is about average, at 41% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 24% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.75% is 0.50 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. 12.0% 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.
Who borrows in Shelby County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by personal services.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Services | 16 | 13.3% |
| Admin Services | 16 | 13.3% |
| Construction | 16 | 13.3% |
| Professional Services | 15 | 12.5% |
| Retail | 14 | 11.7% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 10 | 8.3% |
| Healthcare | 6 | 5.0% |
| Trucking | 6 | 5.0% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan in this county is close to what you need. Size match matters more than brand.
- 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 your cash flow supports.
- Follow your sector link in the table above for lender data specific to your industry across Alabama.
Other counties in Alabama
- Nearby markets with published data: Jefferson County, Madison County, Mobile County, Baldwin County