Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Stearns County?
168 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Stearns County recently, at a median of $167,350. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
168 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Stearns County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $167,350. The most active lender was Falcon National Bank, with 36 loans.
SBA lending in Stearns 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 | Stearns County | Minnesota | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 168 | 5,023 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $167,350 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $95,875 - $490,175 | $50,000 - $475,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.50% | 9.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 35.7% | 37.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 4.3% | 5.3% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 2,085 | 57,646 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Stearns 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon National Bank | 36 | $361,500 | 28% | 9.00% |
| BankVista | 23 | $150,000 | 44% | 9.50% |
| Magnifi Financial CU | 13 | $250,000 | 23% | 9.75% |
| St Cloud Financial Credit Union | 10 | $98,100 | 30% | 10.00% |
| Minnwest Bank | 8 | $348,500 | 25% | 9.00% |
| Stearns Bank | 8 | $112,100 | 12% | 10.50% |
| U.S. Bank | 7 | $30,000 | 43% | 10.49% |
| Sentry Bank | 7 | $100,000 | 71% | 9.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7 | $31,200 | 43% | 10.50% |
| Old National Bank | 6 | $281,850 | 50% | 8.50% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $167,350 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- Startup share is about average, at 36% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 43% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.50% is 0.75 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 4.3% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Who borrows in Stearns County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by retail.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 35 | 20.8% |
| Healthcare | 26 | 15.5% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 23 | 13.7% |
| Construction | 19 | 11.3% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 7.7% |
| Professional Services | 10 | 6.0% |
| Trucking | 9 | 5.4% |
| Personal Services | 9 | 5.4% |
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 Minnesota.
Other counties in Minnesota
- Nearby markets with published data: Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Anoka County, Washington County, Scott County, Wright County, Carver County