Lending data
Who actually lends to retail businesses in Idaho?
231 SBA 7(a) loans went to retail businesses in Idaho recently, at a median of $150,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
231 SBA 7(a) loans went to retail businesses in Idaho in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $150,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was Zions Bank, with 42 loans.
What lending to retail businesses in Idaho 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 | Retail, Idaho | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 231 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $515,800 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 36.8% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 5.0% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to retail businesses in Idaho. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zions Bank | 42 | $119,500 | 38% | 9.80% |
| Idaho Central CU | 26 | $283,000 | 50% | 10.00% |
| Glacier Bank | 19 | $100,000 | 32% | 9.50% |
| D. L. Evans Bank | 16 | $50,000 | 12% | 9.75% |
| Mountain America FCU | 14 | $60,000 | 43% | 9.38% |
| Columbia Bank | 11 | $50,000 | 9% | 13.00% |
| U.S. Bank | 10 | $40,000 | 30% | 10.87% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 8 | $25,000 | 88% | 12.50% |
| America First Federal Credit Union | 8 | $1,053,650 | 38% | 7.75% |
| Newtek Bank | 5 | $300,000 | 20% | 11.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above 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.
- Startup share is about average, at 37% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 38% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 5.0% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 36.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zions Bank | 16 | $119,500 | 38% | 9.80% |
| Idaho Central CU | 13 | $283,000 | 50% | 10.00% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 7 | $25,000 | 88% | 12.50% |
| Glacier Bank | 6 | $100,000 | 32% | 9.50% |
| Mountain America FCU | 6 | $60,000 | 43% | 9.38% |
| America First Federal Credit Union | 3 | $1,053,650 | 38% | 7.75% |
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 Idaho: construction, healthcare, restaurants and hotels, personal services, professional services, manufacturing
- Retail in comparable states: Nevada, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Tennessee