Lending data
Who actually lends to manufacturers in Arkansas?
45 SBA 7(a) loans went to manufacturers in Arkansas recently, at a median of $250,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
45 SBA 7(a) loans went to manufacturers in Arkansas in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $250,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was First Service Bank, with 4 loans.
What lending to manufacturers 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 | Manufacturing, Arkansas | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 45 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $250,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $95,750 - $1,005,700 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 42.2% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 5.6% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to manufacturers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Service Bank | 4 | $350,000 | 25% | 8.75% |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 4 | $99,600 | 50% | 8.22% |
| FNBC Bank | 3 | $1,570,200 | 33% | 10.00% |
| ACC Capital | 2 | $190,400 | 100% | 9.75% |
| The First National Bank of Fort Smith | 2 | $36,500 | 100% | 8.00% |
| Northeast Bank | 2 | $125,000 | 0% | 10.50% |
| RiverBank | 2 | $45,000 | 100% | 8.81% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 2 | $83,250 | 50% | 10.75% |
| First Community Bank | 2 | $415,550 | 100% | 10.38% |
| Evolve Bank and Trust | 2 | $2,769,000 | 0% | 10.75% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $250,000 is 67% 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. 42% 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.
- 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 9.25% is 1.00 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 42.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC Capital | 2 | $190,400 | 100% | 9.75% |
| The First National Bank of Fort Smith | 2 | $36,500 | 100% | 8.00% |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 2 | $99,600 | 50% | 8.22% |
| RiverBank | 2 | $45,000 | 100% | 8.81% |
| First Community Bank | 2 | $415,550 | 100% | 10.38% |
| First Security Bank | 2 | $219,150 | 100% | 9.00% |
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
- Manufacturing in comparable states: Montana, Rhode Island, Mississippi, New Mexico, Vermont, Nebraska