SBA Lenders in Arkansas
30 active SBA lenders · 3,491 loans approved · $2.4B total volume
All SBA Lenders in Arkansas
| Lender | City | Loans | Total Volume | Avg Loan | Preferred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial Bank | El Dorado | 709 | $835.1M | $1.2M | ⭐ |
| Arvest Bank | FAYETTEVILLE | 649 | $171.7M | $265K | ⭐ |
| Stone Bank | MOUNTAIN VIEW | 408 | $304.4M | $746K | ⭐ |
| Simmons Bank | PINE BLUFF | 305 | $163.7M | $537K | ⭐ |
| Bank OZK | LITTLE ROCK | 259 | $121.6M | $470K | ⭐ |
| Evolve Bank and Trust | WEST MEMPHIS | 240 | $236.7M | $986K | ⭐ |
| Centennial Bank | CONWAY | 163 | $136.3M | $836K | ⭐ |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | Arkadelphia | 156 | $150.3M | $964K | ⭐ |
| First Service Bank | Greenbrier | 137 | $97.1M | $709K | ⭐ |
| Encore Bank | LITTLE ROCK | 126 | $85.8M | $681K | ⭐ |
| ACC Capital | Little Rock | 91 | $38.3M | $421K | ⭐ |
| FNBC Bank | ASH FLAT | 82 | $39.1M | $476K | ⭐ |
| First Security Bank | Searcy | 36 | $9.1M | $252K | ⭐ |
| RiverBank | POCAHONTAS | 23 | $8.1M | $350K | — |
| The First National Bank of Fort Smith | FORT SMITH | 22 | $5.3M | $241K | ⭐ |
| CS Bank | EUREKA SPRINGS | 14 | $4.9M | $349K | — |
| Arkansas FCU | LITTLE ROCK | 13 | $6.2M | $476K | — |
| The Citizens Bank | BATESVILLE | 13 | $4.2M | $326K | — |
| First State Bank | Russellville | 11 | $7.5M | $679K | ⭐ |
| Commercial Bank & Trust Company | Monticello | 8 | $4.2M | $524K | — |
| First Community Bank | Batesville | 8 | $2.5M | $311K | — |
| Legacy National Bank | SPRINGDALE | 5 | $467K | $93K | ⭐ |
| Anstaff Bank | Green Forest | 4 | $5.4M | $1.3M | — |
| Relyance Bank | White Hall | 3 | $688K | $229K | — |
| Merchants and Planters Bank | NEWPORT | 1 | $158K | $158K | — |
| Southern Bancorp Capital Partners | Little Rock | 1 | $59K | $59K | — |
| Merchants and Farmers Bank | DUMAS | 1 | $1.7M | $1.7M | — |
| First Western Bank | BOONEVILLE | 1 | $180K | $180K | — |
| Community State Bank | BRADLEY | 1 | $995K | $995K | — |
| Cross Bank | Wynne | 1 | $350K | $350K | — |
Finding an SBA Lender in Arkansas
There are currently 30 SBA-approved lenders headquartered in Arkansas, ranging from national banks to local community lenders. Together they have approved 3,491 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $2.4B since 2020.
Of these, 16 are SBA Preferred Lenders — meaning they have delegated authority to approve SBA loans without prior SBA review, resulting in faster processing and funding.
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SBA Lender Questions for Arkansas
How many SBA lenders are in Arkansas?
There are currently 30 SBA-approved lenders headquartered in Arkansas. Together they have approved 3,491 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $2.4B since 2020. Of these, 16 hold SBA Preferred Lender status, allowing them to approve loans without prior SBA review.
What is an SBA Preferred Lender in Arkansas?
An SBA Preferred Lender (PLP) in Arkansas is a bank or financial institution that has earned delegated authority from the SBA to approve loans independently — without waiting for SBA review. This results in faster approvals (often 7–10 business days vs. 4–6 weeks) and a more streamlined process. Arkansas currently has 16 Preferred Lenders.
How do I choose the best SBA lender in Arkansas?
When choosing an SBA lender in Arkansas, consider three factors: (1) Preferred Lender status — these lenders close loans faster; (2) loan volume — lenders with higher approval counts have more SBA experience; (3) average loan size — find a lender whose typical deal size matches your needs. Our directory shows real SBA loan data for all 30 Arkansas lenders so you can compare objectively.
How long does SBA loan approval take in Arkansas?
With an SBA Preferred Lender in Arkansas, approval typically takes 7–10 business days. Non-preferred lenders require SBA review, adding 2–4 weeks. After approval, funding usually takes an additional 2–4 weeks, so total time from application to funding is typically 30–90 days depending on the lender and loan complexity.