Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Flathead County?
102 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Flathead County recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
102 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Flathead County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000. The most active lender was Glacier Bank, with 13 loans.
SBA lending in Flathead 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 | Flathead County | Montana | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 102 | 667 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $180,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $49,750 - $651,250 | $50,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 46.1% | 37.9% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 904 | 6,357 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Flathead 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Bank | 13 | $100,000 | 77% | 8.00% |
| U.S. Bank | 10 | $46,500 | 70% | 8.87% |
| Three Rivers Bank of Montana | 10 | $1,103,000 | 50% | 9.12% |
| Freedom Bank | 10 | $83,500 | 60% | 9.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 9 | $15,000 | 100% | 13.00% |
| Newtek Bank | 9 | $700,000 | 22% | 11.25% |
| Northeast Bank | 5 | $105,000 | 0% | 10.25% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 5 | $42,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 4 | $133,500 | 0% | 11.12% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 3 | $331,000 | 100% | 10.75% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $150,000 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.
- New businesses do well here. 46% 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 32% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- 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.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 2.7% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Who borrows in Flathead County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by construction.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 24 | 23.5% |
| Retail | 20 | 19.6% |
| Personal Services | 12 | 11.8% |
| Healthcare | 11 | 10.8% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 6 | 5.9% |
| Admin Services | 6 | 5.9% |
| Professional Services | 4 | 3.9% |
| Agriculture | 3 | 2.9% |
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 Montana.
Other counties in Montana
- Nearby markets with published data: Gallatin County, Yellowstone County