Bell Bank: SBA business acquisition lending record
Bell Bank (home state ND) approved 64 SBA 7(a) loans to buy existing businesses since FY2018, totaling $77M. The median loan was $782,900. It ranks number 137 of 280 lenders by count and made 0.1% of all SBA acquisition loans nationally.
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What this tells a borrower
- Deal size it funds. Half of its acquisition loans fell between $349,975 and $1,825,775. If your deal sits well outside that band, this lender may be less practiced at it.
- Geographic reach. Minnesota is the largest state (45% of loans). Loans appear in only 6 states, which points to a regional lender.
- Industry concentration. Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing is 6% of its acquisition loans. The mix is spread across several industries.
- Overall 7(a) volume. 262 SBA 7(a) loans of any purpose since FY2020, totaling $200M. 89% of its acquisition loans were processed under the Preferred Lenders Program.
- Franchise share. 9% of its acquisition loans involved a franchise brand, against 18% for all lenders.
- Seasoned performance. Too few of its loans are old enough to measure a charge-off rate.
Bell Bank acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 1 | $1.3M | $1,294,400 | |
| FY2019 | 2 | $750K | $375,000 | |
| FY2020 | 1 | $1.6M | $1,550,000 | |
| FY2021 | 0 | $0 | - | |
| FY2022 | 9 | $16.5M | $2,000,000 | |
| FY2023 | 19 | $18.2M | $759,400 | |
| FY2024 | 12 | $8.8M | $312,550 | |
| FY2025 | 8 | $11M | $605,450 | |
| FY2026 | 12 | $18.8M | $816,200 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Fewer than 20 Bell Bank acquisition loans are old enough to measure losses reliably, so no charge-off rate is shown. The benchmark across all SBA acquisition loans in the FY2018 to FY2021 cohort is 3.5% by count. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
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States served
Industries financed
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing | 4 | 6.3% | $3.6M | |
| 2 | General Automotive Repair | 2 | 3.1% | $2.4M | |
| 3 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | 2 | 3.1% | $2.3M | |
| 4 | Furniture Retailers | 2 | 3.1% | $2M | |
| 5 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 2 | 3.1% | $454K | |
| 6 | Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | 2 | 3.1% | $393K | |
| 7 | Hardware Merchant Wholesalers | 1 | 1.6% | $5M | |
| 8 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 1 | 1.6% | $4.5M |
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Franchise brands financed
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slumberland Furniture | 2 | 3.1% | $2M | |
| 2 | The UPS Store | 1 | 1.6% | $499K | |
| 3 | Sylvan Learning Centers | 1 | 1.6% | $150K |
Questions buyers ask
Does Bell Bank make SBA acquisition loans?
Yes. Bell Bank approved 64 SBA 7(a) loans to buy existing businesses from FY2018 to FY2026, ranking number 137 of 280 lenders with 25 or more such loans. The SBA file shows past approvals only; it cannot tell you whether the lender will approve a particular buyer or deal.
How large are Bell Bank's acquisition loans?
The median was $782,900, with the middle half between $349,975 and $1,825,775. The national median is $645,250, so this lender's typical loan is 21% higher than the national figure.
Which states does Bell Bank lend in?
Minnesota (29), Arizona (26), North Dakota (5), Wisconsin (2), Colorado (1), Iowa (1). Its loans appear in 6 states, so it is closer to a regional lender.
Which industries does Bell Bank finance?
Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing (4), General Automotive Repair (2), Elementary and Secondary Schools (2), Furniture Retailers (2), All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (2). The top industry is 6% of its acquisition loans.
How have Bell Bank's acquisition loans performed?
Fewer than 20 of this lender's loans are old enough to measure. The national benchmark is 3.5% for the FY2018 to FY2021 cohort.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Related
- Minnesota acquisitions
- Arizona acquisitions
- North Dakota acquisitions
- Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing
- General Automotive Repair
- Elementary and Secondary Schools
- All lenders
Figures are aggregates of public SBA data. This page is not provided or endorsed by Bell Bank.